Workers in British Columbia are slightly more likely than other Canadians to report that they have left a job due to stress, according to the results of a Monster survey released August 16.
The poll found 27% of B.C. employees said work stresses drove them to quit a job, compared with 25% nationally. As well, 17% of Canadians say they have considered leaving a position because of stress.
“Working Canadians are under a lot of pressure on the job,” said Monster Canada general manager Angela Payne. “This, coupled with personal commitments and a desire to advance professionally, may be creating a heightened sense of stress at work.
“For employers, this can lead to a worrying combination of decreased productivity and reduced staff retention.”
The study also found that workers earning less than $40,000 a year are more likely to quit because of stress (38%) than are workers earning between $40,000 and $59,000 (27%).
“For those starting out in their careers, saying yes to opportunities can be second nature,” Payne said. “But the work can add up fast, which may impact stress levels.
“These findings suggest that employers should consider focusing more retention efforts on employees making under $40,000 since they may be prone to excessive job stress.”
On a more positive not, the Monster survey found 65% of Canadians feel their employers support a work-life balance. Those without children are less likely to feel work-life balance support than are those with kids under 18 (61% compared with 71%, respectively).
@EmmaHampelBIV
