It’s 9 a.m. on Monday morning, just another day at the office. Employees are rushing in, coffee cups in hand, trying to get a head start on the workweek. Undoubtedly, many of them are thinking, This nine-to-five arrangement is too rigid. But for all of the discussion about work/life balance over the past decade, flexible work schedules have declined in Canada—a trend that has contributed to a spike in absenteeism and stress levels, according to the 2012 National Study on Balancing Work and Caregiving in Canada polling more than 25,000 employed caregivers across Canada. This is bad news not only for workers but also for employers, experts say, suppressing productivity, increasing drug costs and ultimately hurting the bottom line. Is it finally time to abandon the nine-to-five?
Flexible work arrangements
In 2012, only 27% of employees reported high levels of perceived work flexibility—such as varying work arrival and departure times or arranging schedules to accommodate home demands—down from 29% in 2001.
Work hours
In 2012, 68% of men and 54% of women worked more than 45 hours a week, compared with 55% of men and 39% of women in 2001.
Stress levels
In 2011, 57% of employees struggled with high stress levels, compared with 54% in 2001 and 44% in 1991. Also, 36% of employees reported depressed moods in 2011 and 2001, compared with 24% in 1991.
Absenteeism
In 2011, 77% of workers missed work—seven percentage points higher than in 2001. The most common reasons were health problems (63%) and emotional, mental or physical fatigue (45%). A surprising 30% were absent due to childcare issues and 10% due to eldercare.
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