According to a recent survey by Morneau Shepell, 60% of Canadian employees would be ready to change jobs and accept a lower salary in exchange for better support for personal well-being. Highlights.
Fostering stress management
Close to half of respondents said that the psychological demands associated with their job had increased in the past two years. And 45% of Canadian workers place work and financial well-being as the main anxieties in their lives.
It is then no surprise to learn that the majority of those surveyed want more support for stress management. More than half of these employees (53%) would like to have access to therapy, and 43% would like to be able to participate in digital training in meditation and mindfulness.
Dealing with financial problems
In addition, 60% of employees who participated in this survey indicated that financial problems had negative repercussions on their productivity and well-being.
“When we talk about financial stress, we realize that this problem affects people of all income levels,” says Paula Allen, Senior Vice President, Research, Analysis and Innovation at Morneau Shepell. “In addition, the fact that Canadians are feeling extreme financial pressure, but would still be willing to accept a lower salary if they had good mental health support, speaks volumes.”
Focusing on belonging
This study also shows that workers consider respect, collaboration and appreciation as essential to fostering a sense of belonging and thereby allowing them to be happier at work.
“Organizations have a responsibility to provide training that encourages collaboration and inspires employees to treat one another with respect,” continues Paula Allen. “Promoting peer support is one of the most important investments that an organization can make and, beyond improving employees’ daily lives, it is also an excellent strategy to achieve better financial results.”
In short, there is no universal approach to increasing worker well-being, but according to Paula Allen, organizations will have no choice but to take concrete steps to promote employee happiness. “Support for stress, financial well-being and relations with colleagues is just one step in a larger mental health strategy. By listening to the needs of employees, organizations can eliminate the feeling of isolation and move the organization forward in a way that benefits everyone.”
To read more: 77% of employees are ready to leave to improve their well-being