The more invested Canadian employees are in their jobs, the higher their respective stress levels are, suggests a report released this week by the Centre of Addiction and Mental Health.
A survey of more than 2,700 Alberta workers - aged 18 to 65 - found 18 percent claimed their jobs to be "highly stressful." The work environments included offices, factories, construction sites, farms and services.
"The people who report high stress are the ones most invested in their jobs," said Dr. Carolyn Dewa, head of the CAMH's work and well-being research program. "Employers should be very concerned with keeping this population healthy. From a business perspective, it is in a company's best interest to support these workers."
Dewa added that it is important for employees to have access to mental health and wellness intervention programs, as such initiatives can help cut back on the more than $17 billion in lost productivity Canada faces each year.
As the economy remains stifled by high unemployment, many workers are opting to stick with jobs they may dislike or consider off their career path. Accordingly, small businesses should introduce health initiatives to help stem mass departures once economic conditions improve.
