By the Numbers - Sick, Stressed and Burned Out

Toronto — July 19, 2014 — In an age when Canadians are increasingly forced to work multiple jobs to make ends meet, care for elderly parents, and balance competing responsibilities, many workers are grappling with mental health issues. An alarming number of workers in Canada say they are stressed and burned out. Of those who are highly stressed, more than 65% cite work as the source of their anxiety. And a significantly higher percentage of working class Canadians report being stressed than middle class workers.

83%

In Manitoba, 83% of workers who called in sick for a reason other than physical illness reported feeling stressed or burned out – the highest percentage in Canada.

78%

Not far behind Manitoba, 78% of workers in Ontario who called in sick for a reason other than physical illness reported feeling stressed or burned out.

40%

At the other end of the spectrum, only 40% of Quebecers who called in sick for a reason other than physical illness reported feeling stressed or burned out.

35%

Across Canada, 35% of workers who took a sick day for a reason other than physical illness cited the need to care for a sick child.

13%

Of Canadians who called in sick for a reason other than physical illness, 13% reported overly heavy workloads.

12%

Similarly, 12% of Canadian workers who took a sick day for a reason other than physical illness cited insufficient paid vacation.

27%

More than one quarter of working adults in Canada – or 3.69 million – say they are highly stressed.

42%

More than 40% of Canadians whose annual household income is less than $40,000 are highly stressed.

34%

Significantly less Canadians – 34% - whose annual household income is between $40,000 and $79,000 report being highly stressed.

67%

Of those who report being highly stressed, 67% cite work as the source of their stress.

$20 billion

The cost to employers to deal with mental health problems of Canadian workers is estimated to be $20 billion annually.

3/4

Mental health problems account for more than three quarters of short-term disability claims in Canada.

SOURCES: Statistics Canada, HR Insider