17 July 2012

PRESS RELEASE

Accountant work stress having direct impact on marriages, says CABA

Increased work demands being placed on chartered accountants are having a direct impact on their marriages and other relationships, says Chartered Accountants’ Benevolent Association.

The charity reports that half of the requests for counselling received during 2012 by their enquiry line have been about marital difficulties prompted by work-related stress.

Kath Haines, Chief Executive at CABA, explained: “This is a sad finding but very much in line with other trends that we have noted this year reflecting the way in which the ongoing, difficult economic conditions are impacting on accountants.

“A typical caller who approaches our enquiry line is part of a relationship where one or both partners are overworked. They are finding excessive workplace demands being placed on them, and are often stressed and becoming ill as a result.

“This creates a situation where both partners need support but, because they are tired and fraught, they have little time to give to each other. Soon, conflict is becoming a regular occurrence and home, instead of being a haven from the excesses of work, becomes somewhere else that is a source of anxiety.”

Kath added that the attitude of those approaching CABA for help with this issue was encouraging, with a common theme being that they wanted to reprioritise their lives and repair their relationships, especially where children were involved.

She said: “People tend to have reached a point where they realise that their work-life balance is completely out of kilter and that they need help to put things right. The message that comes through loud and clear is that they want to make things better.”

CABA offers three types of counselling to chartered accountants and their families with relationship problems - 24 hour telephone helpline, online support and face to face counselling.

Kath added: “Out of these, most chartered accountants tend to opt for face-to-face contact because they naturally want to have a large degree of human contact with the counsellor as they try to tackle these highly personal problems.

“It is worth adding that all our services of this kind are free and that there is no waiting list, so that anyone who contacts us can start to access help straightaway. We have seen some very pleasing and happy results.”

Notes to editors

1.    Chartered Accountants’ Benevolent Association (CABA) was formed in 1886, and supports current and former members of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) and their dependent family members.   

2.    CABA provides a holistic service, delivered in a caring and confidential way.  CABA operates completely independently of ICAEW.

3.    Based in Rugby, CABA support ICAEW members and their families around the world.

4.    Additional information about the charity can be found on CABA’s website, please visit www.caba.org.uk

For further details about this press release please contact:

• Simon Wells at Paperchase Public Relations
• Telephone: 01283 711311 / 07768 912430
• E-mail: simon@paperchasepr.co.uk

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