Business leaders bracing for tough year

Executives at large companies are operating with more stress, more risk and fewer expectations for growth — and they’re asking more of their workers to weather the storm, according to a new report.

Business insurer Sentry found that 60 per cent of executives at large companies expect their businesses to either stay flat or shrink this year. The findings, based on a survey of 1,100 business leaders, painted a picture of cautious leadership in the face of economic and operational uncertainty.

Stress levels are rising, too. Eighty-two per cent of large business leaders say they’re more stressed in 2025 than they were last year — a full 15 percentage points higher than their counterparts at smaller firms.

Top concerns

Executives cited a range of risks contributing to their unease: Supply chains, lawsuits and cyber threats.

Nearly half (45 per cent) reported supply chain issues are their top concern, followed by economic uncertainty (39 per cent) and inflation (34 per cent). External threats are also weighing heavily: 84 per cent of respondents said rising litigation and large legal verdicts are a growing problem in their industry. Cyberattacks (37 per cent) and severe weather events (35 per cent) round out the list of top threats.

Cost control and worker demands

In response, companies are tightening their belts. All surveyed executives at large firms noted that they’ve delayed upgrades due to cost pressures. At the same time, virtually all (99 per cent) are shifting more resources toward safety — even as 51 per cent say they’re willing to take on more risk in their insurance policies to save money.

Employees are feeling the pressure, too. More than half (55 per cent) of executives admit they’re asking staff to work longer hours or take fewer breaks —  and 43 per cent expect workers to increase their output in 2025.

Focus

With supply chain issues top of mind, companies are paying closer attention to their drivers. Nearly all (98 per cent) say their operations depend on in-house drivers, and 100 per cent report taking disciplinary action against those who don’t follow safe driving practices. To help manage risk on the road, 82 per cent of companies are using dashcams in their vehicles.

“Large companies are balancing complex risks,” said Jeff Cole, assistant vice president of national accounts at Sentry. “They’re seeking flexibility because they see the need to adapt their operations to a heightened — and in many cases, uncertain — risk environment.”

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