2026 C-Suite Stress Index: Large businesses

Executives at large businesses look to reduce expenses, manage risk

We created the 2026 C-Suite Stress Index based on our survey of 1,250 U.S. executives, seeking insights into their expectations and concerns for 2026. The survey included 200 leaders of companies with 1,000 or more employees.

The responses from these 200 leaders reflect the complex risks large businesses face—from the dual threats of workplace injuries and multimillion-dollar verdicts to concerns that their insurance policies may not adequately address their exposures.

Take a deeper look

Download the full report to learn more about the risks large business leaders are worried about and how they plan to take action.

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Key findings

76%

View litigation and nuclear verdicts as a concern

As legal system abuse and litigation costs continue to skyrocket, the majority of large business executives are worried about the impact a single multimillion-dollar verdict could have on their business.

85%

Plan to increase their investment in worker safety

The majority of large business leaders are committed to investing in worker safety, with the goal of increasing operational output, curbing workers’ compensation incidents, and reducing lost work hours.

18%

Are totally confident their business insurance is adequate

Fewer than one in five large business executives are completely confident they have the right insurance to cover their complex risks—and 98% plan to reevaluate their policies this year.