The effects of the credit crunch are now reaching past companies and beginning to affect individuals...
The effects of the credit crunch are now reaching past companies and beginning to affect individuals and, in particular, their health, according to the results of two surveys conducted by Bupa.
According to Bupa's 2008 Healthy Cities Survey that looked at 10 major cities in the UK, the credit crunch was leading to the UK public taking up unhealthy habits as a reaction to the stresses it is suffering: 31% of those taking the survey said they are losing sleep because of fears over redundancies, 20% are worried about developing depression for the same reason and 9% said they are eating more to combat job-related stress.
It revealed that residents of Bristol and Birmingham were the most insecure about potential job losses while 45% of Geordies reported feeling increasingly stressed due to the credit crunch.
Doctor Rebecca Small, assistant director at Bupa UK Health Insurance, said offering counselling services in the workplace could benefit some employees. She added: "It is imperative to spot the warning signs of employee stress early - look out for the visible symptoms such as a short temper, an inability to plan and control work, poor relationships with colleagues or clients and loss of motivation."
The effects of the crashing economy are also being felt abroad, according to another study from Bupa International which reported that almost three quarters of expatriates have concerns about the weakening of the pound against other currencies.
