LONDON, ON—Stubbornly persistent labour shortages in Canada have left companies over-reliant on a workforce already burdened from recently going through the COVID-19 pandemic, and it’s causing many employees to burn out, according to a new survey from The Harris Poll commissioned by Express Employment Professionals. 

 

More than three-quarters of Canadian employees say they felt burnt out in their careers at some point (78%), with more than 1 in 3 responding that they are currently burnt out at work (35%).

 

Nearly all employees (96%) who have felt burnt out believe their company could take actions to help prevent it. But while the vast majority of companies (84%) report measures in place to help prevent employee burnout, there is a mismatch between what workers want and what companies are providing.

 

According to the survey, employees cite flexible work schedules (53%), as the number one way in which companies can prevent burnout. Other actions include providing incentives/bonuses (50%) and encouraging time off (47%). 

 

On the other hand, the top way employers say they are trying to prevent burnout is by recognizing employees for a job well done (44%). Other actions companies are taking include allowing flexible work schedules (40%), prioritizing health and safety of employees (35%), facilitating small breaks throughout the workday (34%) and encouraging time off (31%).

 

The survey also shows that ensuring companies offer more than a salary and standard benefits package may also help prevent burnout, as a strong majority of hiring managers agree that today’s candidates are looking for jobs that can provide more fulfillment in their lives (87%) or are more meaningful (82%). 

 

“I feel that COVID-19 workplace restrictions contributed to the stressors and anxiety that so many workers are experiencing today. A large percentage of the workforce suddenly had to navigate a home-based work environment and maintain some semblance of work-life balance. When these restrictions were lifted and employees were recalled to offices, they had two established workplace environments and it became too easy for companies to “expect” workers to continue their efforts at home, with extended work hours, weekend hours, or even dialing in on vacation time.” said Michael Elliott, franchise owner of the London and Kitchener Express franchise offices. “The Ontario government recently took a progressive step forward in amendments to the Employment Standards Act, granting workers’ rights to disconnect from the workplace. While it is early days, this change should have the desired impact of delineating work and home and giving workers the chance to truly step away from work.”

 

Turnover is costly and time-consuming, which means companies should make every effort to retain top talent in their headcount, according to Express Employment International CEO Bill Stoller. 

 

“The fatigue of the labour shortage affects almost every area of business, but there are steps business owners can take to keep their most important assets healthy—their employees,” he said. “Small gestures can go a long way to prevent worker burnout and the negative consequences that come with it.”

 

The Job Insights survey was conducted online within Canada by The Harris Poll on behalf of Express Employment Professionals between Dec. 1 and Dec. 15, 2022, among 506 Canadian hiring decision-makers (defined as adults ages 18+ in Canada who are employed full-time or self-employed, work at companies with more than one employee, and have full/significant involvement in hiring decisions at their company). Data were weighted where necessary by company size to bring them into line with their actual proportions in the population. Respondents for this survey were selected from among those who have agreed to participate in our surveys. The sampling precision of Harris online polls is measured by using a Bayesian credible interval. For this study, the sample data is accurate to within + 4.6 percentage points using a 95% confidence level. This credible interval will be wider among subsets of the surveyed population of interest. 

 

The omnibus survey was conducted online within Canada by The Harris Poll on behalf of Express Employment Professionals from Dec. 13-15, 2022, among 1,050 adults ages 18 and older. Data are weighted where necessary by age, gender, race/ethnicity, region, education, marital status, household size, household income and propensity to be online, to bring them in line with their actual proportions in the population. Respondents for this survey were selected from among those who have agreed to participate in our surveys. The sampling precision of Harris online polls is measured by using a Bayesian credible interval. For this study, the sample data is accurate to within + 3.8 percentage points using a 95% confidence level.

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At Express Employment Professionals, we’re in the business of people. From job seekers to client companies, Express helps people thrive and businesses grow. Our international network of franchises offers localized staffing solutions to the communities they serve across the U.S., Canada, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand, employing 579,000 people globally in 2022

and more than 10 million since its inception. For more information, visit ExpressPros.com/CA.

 

The London Express office is located at 300 Dundas Street, Suite 200, and serves the London, Middlesex, St. Thomas, Strathroy, Stratford, Woodstock, Ingersoll, Tillsonburg, and Southwestern Ontario. Local businesses and applicants are encouraged to visit https://expresspros.com/london/ or call (519)672-7620.

  

William H. "Bill" Stoller is chairman and chief executive officer of Express Employment  

International. Founded in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, the international staffing franchisor 

supports the Express Employment Professionals franchise and related brands. The Express franchise brand is an industry-leading, international staffing company with franchise locations in the U.S., Canada, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand.