Nearly 39 per cent of Canadian employees now report feeling burnt out at work, up from 2023 levels, according to a new national survey released Monday.
The survey, conducted by Pollara and commissioned by Mental Health Research Canada in partnership with Canada Life’s Workplace Strategies for Mental Health, found that burnout carries significant financial costs for employers. A company with 500 employees can face more than $3.4 million in annual losses related to burnout through reduced productivity and salary costs, according to the survey findings.
Organizations that focus on burnout prevention can save approximately $1.7 million per year, the survey found.
“Burnout is not just a personal issue — it’s a workplace issue with a price tag,” said Mary Ann Baynton, director of collaboration and strategy at Canada Life’s Workplace Strategies for Mental Health. “When organizations invest in prevention, they don’t just protect their people, they protect their bottom line.”
Support remains limited
Only 36 per cent of employees said their workplace offers programs to prevent burnout, according to the survey.
More than half of Canadian workers face mental health challenges that affect their work, the survey found.
“This year’s findings underscore the urgent need for Canadian workplaces to move beyond awareness and into action,” said Michael Cooper, vice president at Mental Health Research Canada. “With nearly 40 per cent of employees reporting burnout and over half facing mental health challenges that affect their work, the cost of inaction is too high.”
Who experiences burnout most
The survey found burnout rates are higher among women and racialized Canadians compared to other groups.
Only 42 per cent of employees with a mental health diagnosis disclose it at work, often due to fear of career consequences, according to the findings.
Employees reported that support from managers and co-workers has the strongest positive impact on workplace mental health, the survey found.
What works to reduce burnout
Time-based supports such as paid time off and flexible schedules are more effective at addressing burnout than awareness campaigns, according to the survey results.
The survey was released alongside Canada Life’s Cost of Inaction Report, which outlines strategies employers can implement to address workplace burnout.
Canada Life serves more than 14 million customer relationships across Canada and is a subsidiary of Great-West Lifeco Inc.
