Stress impact on economy

Your boss demands why your latest submission was not up to the mark. You say it was because of the morning's traffic congestion.

Do you think the excuse will pass?

According to the 2006 Partnership for New York City (PFNYC) study, not only is time wasted in traffic that negatively affects workflow, it is also the amount of stress generated that distracts a person's concentration at the work place.

PFNYC, a non-profit organisation, found that being stuck in traffic congestion in New York costs it around $6 (Dh22) billion annually in productivity as well as lost time.

This also leads to at least $4.6 (Dh16.9) billion in lost business every year.

According to a recent news report in Indian The Hindu Business Line, employees who feel stressed because of traffic come in to work with a less conducive state of mind.

Going through this on a daily basis takes its toll on work-related performance that affects the output of companies, which in turn decreases the economy's output.