Employers help as stress levels rise.

• Author: Heffes, Ellen M.
• Position: HEALTH

Greater workloads and higher stress levels are impacting accounting and finance executives (32 percent of United States respondents compared with 40 percent globally), according to a recent survey by Robert Half International.

Among key findings from the survey, which queried more than 4,800 hiring managers in finance and human resources in 21 countries:

* 49 percent of U.S. respondents have a hiring freeze in place; 47 percent have consolidated roles; and 38 percent have experienced layoffs.

* Hong Kong and France (60 percent in each country) and Brazil (56 percent) reported the highest levels of personnel change.

* Remaining employees cited increased stress: nearly half (48 percent of U.S. respondents), compared...