TOMI Magazine November 2012

spent complying with government regulation. The Germans put in the longest hours - 47.1 hours on average each week (2.7 hours on government regulation). The US had the se- cond shortest average working week - 39.4 hours, with nearly two hours per week spent dealing with government regulations. Forty-three percent of all respondents said that the economic downturn had given them more stress (54% in Spain, 49% in the US), and 31% reported sleep problems due to increased worry. However, 30% said that the downturn had made them stronger and more determined to succeed, and 31% said that it had spurred them to work more efficiently. New Recruits - keen but not so good on languages Among the small business across all six countries who had recruited new gradu- ates last year, 63% gave them high ratings for keenness and motivation, 56% for reading and writing and 52% for basic arithmetic. However, only 41% rated them highly for speaking foreign languages (USA 33% and UK

26%).

A helping hand Only 22% of small businesses across all coun- tries had asked for outside help from business groups or elected representatives. Eleven per- cent had approached a business or small busi- ness organization, and 9% of a local politician or mayor. Hiscox specializes in insurance for small busi- ness owners, such as professional liability ( errors and omissions insurance) and commer- cial general liability customized for a range of fields including IT, consulting, marketing, pho- tography, real estate, beauty and health.

Press Contacts : Hunger Hoffman 646.442.8341 Hunter.hoffman@hiscox.com

Katherine McGann for Hiscox USA 203.254.1300 ext. 249 kmcgann@prosek.com

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