U.S. Business Executives Face Rising Stress Amid Economic and Legal Pressures, According to Sentry Survey

A newly released survey by Sentry, a leading business insurer, provides insight into the concerns keeping executives awake in 2025. While 47% of business leaders expressed optimism about their companies’ prospects for the year, 67% admitted to experiencing higher stress levels compared to the previous year.

The survey, conducted by Wakefield Research on behalf of Sentry, gathered responses from 1,000 U.S. business owners, CEOs, CFOs, and CROs. The findings revealed that small businesses were the most confident about the year ahead, with 48% of leaders at companies with 10–249 employees expecting success in 2025, compared to just 33% of leaders at larger firms with over 1,000 employees.

A significant gap in stress levels was observed between small and large enterprises. Heading into 2025, 82% of executives at large companies reported heightened stress, whereas 68% of leaders at smaller businesses felt the same.

Executives cited economic uncertainty as their primary concern (47%), followed by supply chain disruptions (44%), rising healthcare costs (41%), labor shortages (38%), and inflation (36%).

Beyond financial and workforce issues, external risks have also intensified. 72% of executives voiced concerns over increasing litigation and multi-million-dollar verdicts affecting their industries. Additionally, 90% acknowledged that severe weather had impacted their businesses in the past five years, with nearly two-thirds reporting outages that temporarily disrupted operations for their companies, customers, or vendors.

In light of these challenges, companies are adjusting their strategies in several ways:

• Delaying Upgrades: 97% of businesses admitted postponing facility and equipment updates due to financial constraints or limited resources. The most commonly delayed investments included equipment (48%), cybersecurity systems (47%), and technology improvements (46%).
• Expanding Employee Roles: 81% of executives acknowledged that employees were being tasked with responsibilities beyond their official roles and training levels as companies sought to maximize efficiency.
• Enhancing Risk Management: 74% of executives were not fully confident that their current insurance coverage was adequate, leading 42% to explore expanded coverage options. Additionally, 82% planned to increase investment in worker safety in 2025 to mitigate risks.

The survey was conducted by Wakefield Research between November 25 and December 9, 2024, through an email invitation and online questionnaire. It included 1,000 U.S. executives from companies with a minimum of 10 employees, with respondents holding roles such as business owner, CEO, CFO, or CRO.

As businesses enter 2025, the findings highlight a landscape where leaders must balance growth ambitions with rising external risks, shaping their strategies to ensure long-term resilience.

Have you read?
Impact of Titles on Your Executive Career – Negotiating Job Titles and more!
5 Reasons being dog friendly is very good for business.
Do you want to change things in your organization? Perhaps it begins with changing how you think.
Mastering Leadership- How Clear Expectations Drive Success.
Countries that Reads The Most Books.