Professionals across Canada are reporting higher levels of work-related stress this year than in 2022
The high pressure that wealth professionals often experience can often lead to unmanaged stress and eventually to burnout, but how can managers reduce this risk?
A new report from recruitment firm Robert Half shows that, among more than 1000 Canadian professionals, 36% said they are more burned out now than they were a year ago.
And the survey found that workplace culture plays a major factor in these increased stress levels with the top 3 contributing factors to burnout cited as:
- Heavy workloads (54%)
- Lack of communication and support from management (29%)
- Toxic organizational culture (26%)
This suggests that management can play a key role in easing the stress for their teams by improving these areas.
Among the most stressed professionals surveyed are younger workers (Gen Z and Millennials), those who have been with the company for 2-4 years and working parents.
"Burnout is a serious issue that needs to be combatted with ongoing efforts", said David King, senior managing director, Robert Half, Canada and South America. "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."
How to improve burnout culture
The report says that are some effective ways that can change a burnout culture into a healthy work culture.
These include:
- Encouraging time off
- Providing greater schedule flexibility
- Giving guidance on prioritizing projects
Those survey respondents who said they feel supported by their employers cited these as factors, however 39% feel uneasy about expressing feelings of burnout with their manager and 23% said their manager hasn't taken steps to help them alleviate work-related stress.
It’s important that professionals have time off and should not be checking in with work when they do.
"Employees are happier, more productive, and less at risk of burnout when they have had the chance to properly unplug and find balance in their personal and professional lives," added King. "Managers should be modeling good behaviours in this area, and setting realistic expectations, while encouraging their teams to take time off, and truly disconnect."
