Nearly half of workers worldwide say they face burnout, and that disengagement could cost employers an estimated US$438bn this year.
Sodexo Canada’s new Workplace Wellness survey, conducted by Leger, together with its global whitepaper, Healthy Places + Happy People, links that strain directly to productivity pressure after a decade of flat growth in advanced economies.
The research focuses on how workplace health, happiness and resilience shape performance.
Globally, 48 percent of employees report burnout, while only 21 percent say they feel engaged.
The research ties that low engagement to an estimated US$438bn in lost productivity in 2024.
It finds that when employers combine supportive culture, health-focused spaces and data-led decisions, they can cut absenteeism, strengthen engagement and lift productivity.
The global findings cite a strong correlation between employee health, happiness and business results, and state that “happy employees are 13 percent more productive.”
Canadian results broadly line up with the global picture but show some differences within the country.
A majority of employed Canadians rate their overall physical and mental health as good or excellent (58 percent).
However, 3 in 10 describe their overall well-being as only fair, and 1 in 10 say it is poor or very poor.
Quebec stands out: 21 percent of workers there rate their health and happiness at work as excellent, compared with 14 percent in the rest of Canada.
The survey also reports that most Canadian respondents (84 percent) feel their employer supports their health and happiness through workplace design, services or culture.
Support appears uneven across age groups: 44 percent of workers under 55 report strong support, versus 33 percent of those over 55.
The global whitepaper identifies personal job satisfaction, healthy meeting culture and supportive leadership as key drivers of resilience and productivity.
In Canada, nearly half of respondents (48 percent) point to job security and stability as the factor with the greatest positive impact on their health and productivity.
Flexible work arrangements follow at 37 percent. About a quarter highlight a supportive work culture (26 percent), social interaction with colleagues (24 percent), and opportunities for growth and learning (22 percent).
Globally, 42 percent of employees say they want to return to the office primarily to spend more time with colleagues, underscoring the role of workplace relationships alongside job design and flexibility.
The research also highlights environmental conditions as a component of workplace well-being.
The global whitepaper, supported by Canadian survey data, links a series of physical factors to outcomes: low noise, clean air, comfortable temperature, natural light, suitable equipment and seating, opportunities for movement and access to nutritious food.
Case studies backed by the International WELL Building Institute (IWBI) and its WELL Building Standard report measurable shifts in workplaces that address these factors, including higher reported productivity, lower sick leave and improved satisfaction levels.