Many executives are asking more of their employees, requiring them to work longer hours or take fewer breaks. (Credit: Nuthawut/Adobe Stock)
Among executives at large businesses, 60% expect their companies to remain flat or shrink in 2025, according to a new survey from Sentry.
Supply chain issues are the biggest concern for executives (45%) along with economic uncertainty (39%) and inflation (34%). Many (84%) are also seeing rising litigation and large multi-million dollar verdicts as a growing threat, along with cyberattacks (37%) and severe weather events (35%).
According to the survey, 82% of large business leaders are more stressed in 2025 than they were last year.
To cope with the rising pressure, many executives (55%) said they’re asking more of their employees, requiring them to work longer hours or take fewer breaks.
Some executives are also launching cost-control efforts. But while 100% of executives said they’re delaying upgrades due to cost pressures, 99% are planning to shift more resources toward safety. This may be because many (51%) say they’re taking on higher deductibles to lower their insurance costs.
Executives say, when it comes to risk, their companies are cracking down on drivers in particular. All of those surveyed said they’ve taken corrective action toward drivers who failed to follow safe driving practices, and 82% have started using dashcams in company vehicles.
“[Large companies are] seeking flexibility because they see the need to adapt their operations to a heightened — and in many cases, uncertain —risk environment,” said Jeff Cole, assistant vice president of national accounts at Sentry, in a statement. “The silver lining is that it’s driving more conversations about what adequate protection really looks like moving forward.”
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