Canadian employees are generally a satisfied lot, with the majority reporting that they feel fulfilled in their jobs and have the flexibility to work towards work-life balance, a new survey suggests.
But they say their employers aren't quite as aware — or as accommodating — when it comes to mental illness.
Eighty-two per cent of respondents to an Ipsos Reid poll said they are "fully" or "mostly" fulfilled in their job, though managers are more fulfilled (87 per cent) than employees in non-managerial roles (80 per cent). The survey was conducted for the Global Business and Economic Roundtable on Addiction and Mental Health in Toronto.
The study was carried out between Oct. 19 and Nov. 6, 2007, and 4,122 part-time and full-time employees (of whom 1,223 were managers and 2,788 were non-managers) were interviewed.
The majority of employees (70 per cent) believe their workplaces are healthy from a mental health perspective, with managers (74 per cent) more likely than non-managerial employees (65 per cent) to say so.
And most workers believe their employers are providing work environments in which work-life balance is possible — 73 per cent of managers and 70 per cent of non-managers say this is the case.
Eight in ten employees (78 per cent) also say that their employers allow them to respond to family responsibilities in a flexible manner, though managers (82 per cent) are more likely to say this than non-managers (70 per cent).
Mental health issues not well-addressed
Awareness of mental health issues is more spotty, the poll suggests. While 46 per cent of the employees surveyed said their offices are cognizant of the stress levels employees are under and the effect of stress on productivity, 50 per cent of them are managers and 44 per cent are non-managerial workers.
Only 31 per cent of workers believe there is awareness in their work environments that some staff members may be suffering from anxiety or panic disorders or may need extended time off to deal with mental health issues.
Sixty-three per cent of employees said they have mental health components to their benefits packages and 25 per cent of employees said they have used them to treat depression, stress-related conditions and anxiety.
Nineteen per cent of employees said they have had to pay for these services themselves.
Three in 10 respondents (30 per cent) knew a fellow employee who has been diagnosed with depression. Eighteen per cent said they have been diagnosed with clinical depression.
Managers surveyed estimated their total average cost in reduced efficiency and productivity due to mental health issues per year is $7,112.07 per employee, while the cost to their business over the same time is $9,919.70 a year per employee.
Canadians a hard-working lot
The poll suggests that most workers, both part-time and full-time, work about 39 hours per week. Managers average 44-hour work weeks and non-managers work an average of 39 hours a week.
As for sick days, employees take on average three sick days a year. Stress leads employees to take off an average 1.1 days per year.
The results of the poll are considered accurate to within plus or minus 1.25 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.
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