Employers should 'take more proactive approach in educating employees about supports available,' says expert
While mental health has been front and center of the discussion for the past couple of years, very few employees are accessing employer-provided benefits for their wellbeing needs, according to a report.
Just one in 20 (five per cent) of those with employer-provided benefits – either through their employer or spouse's employer – turn to them as their 'go-to' support with well-being needs, reports Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) Insurance.
This is the case even though working Canadians are feeling the negative impact on their overall well-being in the areas of:
- declining perceptions of mental health (57 per cent)
- job satisfaction (55 per cent)
- financial health (44 per cent)
Each of these markers are down five points since 2023, says RBC.
Working Canadians are struggling most with financial security (56 per cent), followed by sleep quality (50 per cent) and physical fitness (39 per cent).
Lack of awareness of employee benefits
The problem is the lack of awareness from workers, says RBC. Overall, over a quarter (26 per cent) of working Canadians say they either do not have or are unsure if they have employer-provided benefits.
And among those who have employer-provided benefits, nearly one-quarter (24 per cent) admit they do not know much about their coverage.
"These findings emphasize the need for employers to take a more proactive approach in educating their employees about the supports available to them through their employee benefits programs," says Andrejka Massicotte, head of group benefits, RBC Insurance.
"In today's challenging economic environment, it's essential for Canadians to fully understand and access their existing employer-provided benefits, which can significantly support their financial and overall health and well-being needs."
Over seven in 10 (71 per cent) Canadians would remain with employers who fully meet mental health needs, according to a previous report.
Why do people seek mental health services?
Almost all working Canadians say they need to improve their health and well-being, with physical and financial fitness leading as the areas requiring attention, according to RBC Insurance’s survey of 1,000 working Canadians in July.
More than half (52 per cent) report that they or their spouse are contending with at least one mental or physical health condition. Of these, 30 per cent reported a mental health-related disability.
Affordability is a top barrier to improving well-being for 54 per cent of working Canadians, followed by:
- lack of motivation (35 per cent)
- busy schedules (33 per cent)
- mental health (25 per cent)
- long working hours (19 per cent)
- uncertain on where to start (17 per cent)
- lack of access to resources (15 per cent)
"This disconnect points to a critical opportunity for employers and insurers to better educate and engage employees, showing them the value-added services they may already have access to, that can assist with addressing various aspects of their well-being," adds Massicotte.
"Employers should look to improve communication around benefits, work with their benefits provider to offer more personalized solutions, and make it easier for employees to access the support they need, when they need it."
Mental health claims in Canada surged by 132 per cent since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a previous report.
How to promote mental health awareness and support at work
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), government, employers, the organizations that represent workers and employers, and other stakeholders responsible for workers’ health and safety can help to improve mental health at work through action by:
- preventing the risks to mental health at work
- protecting and promoting mental health at work
- supporting workers with mental health conditions to participate and thrive in work
- creating an enabling environment for change.
“Action to address mental health at work should be done with the meaningful involvement of workers and their representatives, and persons with lived experience of mental health conditions,” says the WHO.
