WORKPLACE HEALTH & SAFETY
Canada - Around two-thirds of Canadian employees polled have reported suffering from stress, fatigue or insomnia more often over the past year but companies are not active enough in caring for their health.
Findings from the thirteenth edition of the sanofi-aventis Healthcare Survey, 45% of 1,508 respondents blame work issues for their stress and fatigue. Slightly under a quarter said their health problems were caused by personal issues while 20% said financial issues were stressing them out. One in three said they were losing sleep.
But 17% of employees have no clue how their companies are helping them manage these workplace health issues with less than 10% saying they can count on their management for flexibility, availability and support. Similarly, less than one in three respondents can access to workplace wellness programmes.
Jacques L'Espérance, the survey's advisory board member, said the lack of time was the biggest issue for respondents when asked why they don't participate in workplace wellness. "They don't have time to do their jobs, let alone attend an educational seminar or go to the fitness centre," he said. "Employers offer wellness programmes on the one hand, but take them away on the other due to lack of time."
L'Espérance said this issue needs addressing if companies want to improve the overall health of their employees through workplace health programmes. The survey added that "sustainable health in the workplace can only be achieved by a deeper commitment to early disease detection, preventative care, and wellness in general".
Having a quality health benefit plan also encourages employees to stay with their current employers, reduce absenteeism and boost productivity, said L'Espérance. "Employees also think more positively of their employer because of their health benefit plan."
A significant 90% of employees also said it is very important for their health benefit plan to cover vaccinations and prescription medication.
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