NZ employers among world's least stressed

New Zealand business owners are among the least stressed internationally but are among the most likely to seek medical advice, a new report has found.

A Grant Thornton International Business Owners Survey of 6000 business owners in 24 countries rated New Zealand in the lowest five with 32 per cent of business owners reporting increases in stress.

Taiwan topped the table at 69 per cent, citing increased competition as the main cause of stress. Sweden recorded the lowest stress increase at 23 per cent and only 4 per cent of owners seeking medical advice.

However, New Zealand business owners rank among the top three nations when it comes to seeking medical help to manage their stress, with 16 per cent seeking advice.

Business owners rated their stress levels against categories of increased pressure on cash flow and profit margin, increased competition, increased customer demands and regulation and red tape.

Every country showed increased levels of stress, with a global average increase of 39 per cent.

Grant Thornton NZ chairman Peter Sherwin said in New Zealand red tape was the key factor.

"We are regularly trying to help them understand the complexity of the regulations and red tape they're working with, and ACC is one that's caused clients difficulty to just understand how it all works."

Sherwin added the survey shows it is time to give greater consideration to employers' stress.

"Given that New Zealand business owners are the backbone of the economy ... we need to make sure that not only the businesses are going well but the people running the businesses are in good shape."

Though rated in the top three for business owners seeking medical attention, in general New Zealand performed well.

The report says New Zealand falls into the "high-growth, low-stress increase" bracket with Australia, the United States and Canada, in a category regarded as having the best of both worlds.