More than a third (36 per cent) of Canadian employees say they feel more burned out than a year ago, according to a new survey by Robert Half Canada Inc.
The survey, which polled more than 1,100 workers, found 39 per cent said they feel uneasy about expressing feelings of burnout with their manager. Nearly a quarter (23 per cent) of respondents said their manager hasn’t taken steps to help them alleviate work-related stress. Workers who have received support from their manager said they’ve been encouraged to take time off (22 per cent), been provided with greater schedule flexibility (17 per cent) and received guidance on prioritizing projects (16 per cent).
Read: Survey finds a third of Canadian employees currently experiencing burnout
While a third (32 per cent) of employees said they plan to use more vacation days this summer compared to last summer, 20 per cent said they can’t take time off because they have too much work or they worry it will impact their job security. A fifth (18 per cent) of respondents said they check in with work frequently when on vacation.
About half (54 per cent) of employees cited a heavy workload as the No. 1 factor that contributes to burnout, followed by lack of communication and support from management (29 per cent) and toxic organizational culture (26 per cent). Workers who reported the highest burnout levels were generation Z and millennials, employees who have been with their company for two to four years and working parents.
“Burnout is a serious issue that needs to be combatted with ongoing efforts,” said David King, senior managing director for Robert Half Canada and South America, in a press release. “Though many companies have made strides in supporting employee well-being, it’s clear that there is work to be done and many teams are still stretched thin. This pressure may be exacerbated right now as some businesses are hesitant to bring on new staff while maintaining their project load.”
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