More than three-quarters (78 per cent) of Canadian employees say they’ve felt burnt out in their careers at some point and 35 per cent say they’re currently experiencing burnout, according to a new survey by the Harris Poll on behalf of Express Services Inc.
The survey, which polled more than 500 employers and more than 1,000 employees, found while the majority (84 per cent) of companies reported having measures in place to help prevent burnout, nearly all (96 per cent) employees who are experiencing burnout said their employer could take more action to prevent it.
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Employees cited flexible work schedules (53 per cent) as the No. 1 method to prevent burnout, followed by incentives/bonuses (50 per cent) and encouraging time off (47 per cent). By comparison, employers cited employee recognition (44 per cent) as the best way to prevent burnout, followed by flexible work schedules (40 per cent), prioritizing employee health and safety (35 per cent) and facilitating small breaks throughout the day (34 per cent).
The majority of employers agreed candidates are looking for jobs that can provide more fulfillment in their lives (87 per cent) or are more meaningful (82 per cent).
“The fatigue of the labour shortage affects almost every area of business, but there are steps business owners can take to keep their most important assets healthy — their employees,” said Bill Stoller, chief executive officer at Express Services, in a press release. “Small gestures can go a long way to prevent worker burnout and the negative consequences that come with it.”
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