A fifth (21 per cent) of Canadian workers say they’re considering leaving their job, according to Telus Health’s latest mental-health index.
The average mental-health score for July was 65.2, an improvement from the previous three months when it remained at 64.6. However, the survey found the average mental-health score (56.3) of those contemplating a new role was lower than the 66 per cent who said they intend to stay with their current employer (69.3) and nearly nine points lower than the national average.
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When asked about the primary reason they’re seeking a job change, respondents cited a better career opportunity (20 per cent), followed by better benefits (12 per cent), retirement (11 per cent), needing and/or wanting a change (11 per cent), dislike of their job (10 per cent), feeling underappreciated (nine per cent), other reasons (seven percent), increased mental stress or strain at work (six per cent), dislike of their managers (five per cent), changes in their health (five per cent), caregiving responsibilities (three per cent) and increased mental stress or strain at home (two per cent).
The lowest average mental-health score (43.7) was cited by respondents who reported changes in their health as the reason for a job change, while the highest average score (73.3) was reported by those who cited retirement as the reason for leaving their jobs. Incidentally, more than a third (35 per cent) of managers have experienced increased turnover in the last year and the average mental-health score of this group was 61.7.
For more than a year, the lowest average mental-health sub-score was anxiety (59.2), followed by isolation (60.9), depression (63.6), work productivity (63.7), optimism (66.5) and financial risk (69.8). General psychological health continued to show the most favourable average mental-health sub-score (72.5).
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