News

More Canadian workers are stressed and depressed on the job, a development that's hurting the economy because of rising costs and reduced labour productivity.

According to a survey commissioned by Desjardins Financial Services, 83 per cent of Canadians have shown up for work while sick or exhausted. Nearly nine in 10 also believe stress-related problems are on the rise.

That anxiety is costly. The Canadian economy loses a whopping $30-billion each year in direct and indirect costs related to mental-health issues, according to a 2005 estimate in the journal Chronic Diseases in Canada. Part of that comes in missed days of work, as stressed workers tend to miss twice the number of work days a year as employees with little stress, the Conference Board of Canada said in a 1999 study.

“Stress, burnout, and depression create huge fallout in the workplace that far exceeds taking a sick day here and there,” Taylor Alexander, chief executive of the Canadian Mental Health Association, said in the report.

“It is estimated that more than two million employees in Canada suffer mental illness at any given time. The economic, social and personal impact of mentally unhealthy workplaces is staggering.”

Employees suffering clinical depression are off the job an average of 40 days, and mental health claims – particularly depression – are the fastest-growing category for days lost to disability in Canada, the survey said.

It's not just in Canada. Depression will be the No. 2 cause of disability by 2020, behind only cardiovascular disease, the World Health Organization calculates.

Not addressing these issues means more days lost, reduced productivity, and higher disability and benefits costs, Mr. Taylor added.

“Businesses are facing projected shortages of skilled workers in the future and they will have to use their resources in the most effective way. Part of that is ensuring that their work force is mentally healthy.”

He urged employers to take more responsibility for the mental health of their staff. Among his recommendations:

– Offer flexible hours.

– Allow workers to work from home where possible and appropriate.

– Permit those returning from a leave to gradually build up to a full-time schedule.

– Encourage staff to stay home with sick children or elderly relatives when needed.

– Eliminate unnecessary meetings.

The survey also found that more than half of workers – especially women – would be willing to earn less money in order to work fewer hours.

Thursday's survey was conducted in February and March and was based on interviews with 1,594 Canadian adults. It was released ahead of next week's Mental Health Week.