Belgian entrepreneurs face rising stress and reduced vacation time

Recent surveys of Belgian entrepreneurs and new business starters reveal increasing levels of stress and a reduction in leisure time. According to data from Xerius, approximately 23 percent of entrepreneurs work nearly every day during their vacations. A majority (58 percent) bring their laptops on trips, a practice that 56 percent of respondents say causes tension within their families.

Lode Godderis, a professor of occupational medicine at KU Leuven, noted that family members can immediately sense when an entrepreneur is only physically present but mentally still working. Furthermore, 51 percent of entrepreneurs struggle to relax, and 39 percent report falling ill more frequently during their holidays.

Data from the Acerta Startersbarometer highlights a paradox among new entrepreneurs. While 72.5 percent of those who started a business in the past year would do so again, they are experiencing higher stress levels. The proportion of new starters experiencing stress rose from 38.4 percent to 44.8 percent. Additionally, the median number of vacation days for full-time self-employed individuals dropped from 20 to 15 days over a two-year period.