Stress levels soar at family businesses

Stress levels soared at family businesses over the last year, according to research conducted by financial advisers Grant Thornton.

Around 44% of all family businesses in the UK saw their stress levels increase or increase significantly over the past year, an increase of 10% on 2005 when 34% felt anxious at work.

Grant Thornton's head of family business, Howard Hackney, said: "As a rule, family businesses experience dramatically high levels of stress, mostly due to the line between personal and business life being all too close for many.  

"Only 10% make it to the third generation, indicating all too clearly the effect stress can have on a family business."