Work-life balance continues to be the No. 1 factor driving Canadians’ workplace happiness, according to a new survey by ADP Canada Co.
The survey, which polled more than 1,200 employees, found employees gave work-life balance and support the highest work happiness scores, ranking it 6.9 points on a scale of one to 10, followed by recognition and support (6.7 points), compensation and benefits (6.3 points) and options for career advancement (6.1 points). All of these factors saw an increase in scores from January 2024.
Baby boomers held the top spot as the happiest generation of Canadian workers for the 14th consecutive month, reporting their highest score to date (7.7 points). Generation Z (6.7 points) workers were the next happiest generation, followed closely by millennials and gen-Xers (6.6 points).
Read: Baby boomers are the happiest employees in the workplace: survey
Overall, the average national work happiness score decreased to 6.7 points in February, down from 6.9 in January. Fewer than half (46 per cent) of respondents expressed they felt satisfied with their current role and responsibilities.
Regionally, employees in Atlantic Canada (7.1 points) were the happiest in the country, with notable increases in sentiment around work-life balance and flexibility. Ontario was the only region to see a decrease in happiness as they took last place.
“February reshuffles the cards, with some regions climbing to the top three for the first time,” says Heather Haslam, ADP Canada’s vice-president of marketing, in a press release. “The winter may be difficult for some, with less socialization and time spent outside. Now may be a good time to consider in-person team activities, especially targeting the younger generations in the workplace, as we are noticing that gen Z and millennial workers have not shown any increase in happiness in a few months.”
Read: Survey finds 47% of Canadian workers happy with current role, responsibilities