Almost two years into the global coronavirus pandemic, more than a third (35 per cent) of working Canadians are feeling burned out, according to a new survey commissioned by Canada Life’s Workplace Strategies for Mental Health and conducted by Mental Health Research Canada.
The study measured a range of factors related to how employees are feeling at work. The five industries that showed burnout rates above the national average of 35 per cent are: health and patient care (53 per cent); transportation (40 per cent); finance, legal and insurance (39 per cent); education and childcare (38 per cent); and first responders (36 per cent).
Within the health and patient care industry, a staggering 66 per cent of nurses reported burnout. Mental-health professionals followed closely at 61 per cent and all other segments surveyed in this industry landed well above the Canadian average.
Read: Canadian workers describing burnout as high, extreme: survey
“The number of Canadians reporting burnout is cause for concern,” said Mary Ann Baynton, director of collaboration and strategy at Workplace Strategies for Mental Health, in a press release. “It’s not surprising though — considering we’re once again faced with extreme uncertainty as the pandemic rollercoaster continues. For so many of us, anxiety and exhaustion are at an all-time high.”
The survey also found few working Canadians feel they’re receiving enough support from their employer, with only a third of respondents indicating their company is committed to a low stress environment.
“We’re troubled about the many respondents who singled out the lack of psychological supports at work,” said Michael Cooper, vice-president at Mental Health Research Canada. “With the pandemic it’s more important than ever for employers to consider new leadership approaches to help those employees most at risk of burnout. The consequences of not doing so are significant.”
Read: Study finds burnout, stress symptoms on the rise 18 months into the pandemic