Employees suffering from stress can have a significant impact on the performance of small businesses, the International Stress Management Association has said.
While stress has a negative impact on any companies, smaller businesses and the self-employed often feel more pressure to perform well in addition to having fewer resources to cope when staff do take sick days.
Vice-chair of the International Stress Management Association, Caroline Raymond, said that it is essential for small businesses to try to tackle workplace stress in recognition of some of the specific financial problems they face.
Ms Raymond said that it is in the best interests, both financial and physical, of any small business to ensure that employees are as happy and healthy in the workplace as possible.
She said: "If you're a small business, if people go off sick it's obviously likely to have a very direct impact on the business.
"If you are self employed the effect on your financial situation could be very serious."
