Manulife survey shows most productivity loss occurs while employees are still at work
Canadian employees are losing the equivalent of 46 working days per year to health-related challenges and most of that loss happens while they are still at their desks.
The Wellness Report by Manulife Canada, which surveyed nearly 4,700 employees across 159 organisations with a Manulife Group Benefits plan, found that only 3 percent of total working time is lost to absences.
The far larger share, 19 percent, is eroded by on-the-job productivity losses driven by mental fatigue, stress, and burnout.
Mental health is a defining factor.
Manulife's findings show 80 percent of respondents said work contributes to their current mental state, 57 percent said mental health challenges affect their ability to perform, and the same proportion reported experiencing burnout at least some of the time.
Physical health compounds the picture.
More than half of surveyed employees (53 percent) reported poor sleep quality, and nearly one-third (32 percent) cited lack of time as the primary barrier to improving their physical health, the report noted.
"Employees are still showing up, but burnout and mental fatigue are limiting how they contribute and perform," said Ashesh Desai, head of group benefits at Manulife Canada, adding that employers have a clear opportunity to better support their teams.
The report identifies several earlier intervention options for plan sponsors, including Employee and Family Assistance Programs, mental health practitioner coverage, and digital health tools.
These supports aim to reduce productivity losses across the workforce.
