The Wellness Report
in 2023

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Overview

The Wellness Report is a comprehensive workplace wellness assessment survey that helps organizations get the data they need to measure the baseline of workplace wellness.

In 2023, 8,728 employees from 99 organizations completed The Wellness Report survey, and we analyzed their responses to compile the latest insights on employee and organizational health in Canada. Check out some of our findings below:

The Wellness Report 2023 highlights1

Organizations that have prioritized employees’ health and wellness are seeing a return on their efforts:

49 days lost on average per employee surveyed per year.
The top 3 scoring organizations* are getting 13 more days of productivity per employee compared to the rest.

Compared to last year**, the top 3 organizations also recovered 3 days of productivity, while the rest lost an additional day. They are also less likely to have employees with low engagement.

Employee perception isn’t reality

65% of employees who have 3 or more health risk factors believe they are in ‘good’ or ‘very good’ physical health.

 

Employees don’t always have a complete view of their health, making it challenging to adopt lifestyle changes that would improve it.

Top 3 barriers to improved health

Lack of time (62%)

Lack of motivation to change existing behaviours (45%)

Mental fatigue (44%)

Mental health

Work-related mental health risk factors continue to impact employees.

 

48%  of employees are experiencing at least one work-related mental health risk factor.

  •  Challenges with work-life balance (27%), involvement and influence on how to do their jobs (26%), and workload management (17%)

 

52% of employees are experiencing feelings of loneliness.

  • Lack of social connection not only increases the risk of chronic conditions, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, dementia, and depression, it can also lead to 30% higher risk of early death, comparable to much better recognized risks such as smoking, excessive drinking, or obesity2.

Physical health and lifestyle habits

 

32% get less than the recommended 7 hours of sleep

Top 3 organizations: 25%.

 

45% don’t get sufficient physical activity 

Top 3 organizations: 36%

 

40% with 1 or more chronic health conditions

Top 3 organizations: 30%

 

73% not eating 5 portions of fruits and vegetables per day

Top 3 organizations: 68%

Financial health

We continue to see strong links between financial health and productivity at work. This may lead to increased absenteeism, decreased employee motivation, strained relationships with colleagues, and turnover.3

 

66% of employees worry about their financial situation

 

33% disclosed that money worries distract them at work

The impact organizations have on employees’ health

One of the keys to success of the top 3 scoring organizations may be their investment in the long-term health of their organizations by building great work cultures, environments, and offering wellness initiatives for employees. These can play a crucial role in your organizational health in addition to providing a comprehensive benefit package.

See more in The Wellness Report 2023 key findings infographic here.

Benefit solutions guide

The Wellness Report can help identify the top factors impacting your employees’ health in the workplace and the barriers they are facing to adopting a healthier lifestyle. Once you understand how your employees are doing, you may want to consider some of the following suggestions that may help you improve the overall health of your organization.  

On the left side of the page, you’ll find a recap of The Wellness Report 2023 highlights, accompanied by suggestions for you to consider on the right.

Insight

Consider these options ***

Feelings of loneliness

52% of employees are experiencing feelings of loneliness. Lack of social connection not only increases the risk of chronic conditions, it can also lead to 30% higher risk of early death, comparable to much better recognized risks such as smoking, excessive drinking, or obesity.

  • Include mental health coverage for all 6 mental health practitioners (psychologist, social worker, clinical counsellor, psychotherapist, marriage & family therapist, psychoanalyst) so employees have access to the adequate support they need
  • Host or organize Manulife’s Manager Mental Health and Mental Health First Aid training to equip your people leaders with tools to help increase knowledge and reduce stigma in the workplace, recognize the signs of declining mental health and offer support

Need to better understand state of health

65% of employees who have 3 or more health risk factors believe they are in ‘good’ or ‘very good’ physical health. Without a realistic view of one’s own health, it’s less likely that they are willing to make changes to improve their health.  

  • Provide voluntary, on-site health screenings to help bring employees personal awareness of their health status, which can help them understand what changes they may need to make in order to improve their health (speak with your Manulife representative or workplace well-being team to learn more about our offerings)
  • Introduce regular mental health check-ins/surveys to employees

Lack of motivation and time to improve health

  • Employees say lack of time (62%) and motivation (45%) are top barriers to making healthy choices.
  • Lifestyle and behavioural factors strongly influence the odds of preventing or developing diseases.4
  • Hold optional wellness sessions during work hours – check out our employee wellness programs
  • If you don’t already have one, consider adding a Health Care Spending Account to your benefits plan to encourage employees to take action toward better health – giving them more options and choice when making positive lifestyle changes.

Unbalanced diet

  • 73% of employees are not eating 5 portions of fruits and vegetables per day.
  • Adults who eat a healthy diet live longer and have a lower risk of obesity, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and certain cancers.5
  • Consider increasing dietician coverage as part of your paramedical coverage
  • If you have Employee and Family Assistance Program (EFAP) as part of your benefits plan, remind employees about the nutritional counselling offered through the program

Lack of physical activity

Employees’ physical health can have a direct impact on their workplace productivity: 29% of those with musculoskeletal conditions have seen an impact on their ability to work.

  • Consider adding or increasing fitness benefits, such as preferred gym membership rates, an onsite gym, a wellness account, or offer discounts for fitness gear
  • Consider adding physiotherapy and massage benefits to your coverage to help members enhance their physical well-being

Trouble with sleep

  • 32% of employees get less than the recommended 7 hours of sleep.
  • Even after just one night without enough rest, one can become less alert, struggle to focus their attention, and their ability to perform tasks like reading complex sentences and doing simple math worsens.6
  • Sleep deprivation can also increase the long-term risk of physical health problems.6
  • Host education sessions / webinars on sleep hygiene
  • Learn more about how sleep can affect your employees (“Tips to maintain your sleep hygiene”)

 

Desire to improve financial health

66% of employees worry about their financial situation, and 33% disclosed that money worries distract them at work. We continue to see strong links between financial health and productivity at work. This may lead to increased absenteeism, decreased employee motivation, strained relationships with colleagues, and turnover.

  • Remind employees about the voluntary Financial Wellness Assessment they can complete
  • If you have EFAP as part of your benefits plan, consider promoting the financial advice offered through the program with your employees

In addition to the suggestions above, our Manulife Mobile app also offers personalized recommendations for programs that can help employees manage existing conditions, encourage them to reach their wellness goals, and stay motivated – one step at a time.****

If you don’t have a product mentioned above and would like to add it to your plan, please reach out to your Manulife representative or the workplace well-being team.

Building healthier workplaces is a journey and we’re there to support you along the way!

A good way to start is by getting this data for your organization – so you can see how you can help improve your employees’ health and the overall health of your organization.

Coming soon

* The top 3 organizations are selected based on how they scored against a wide range of indicators. Their combined results give a good indication of where the healthier organizations stand.

** Comparison of The Wellness Report key findings in 2022 and 2023. The top 3 organizations may be different in 2023 compared to 2022.

*** The above suggestions are general in nature and are not intended, nor should they be construed, as business advice.

****Completing your health profile is optional. It helps us personalize your program recommendations.

 

Sources:

1 The Wellness Report, 2023 

2 “It’s time to harness the power of connection for our health and well-being”, World Health Organization, 2023, <https://www.who.int/news-room/commentaries/detail/it-s-time-to-harness-the-power-of-connection-for-our-health-and-well-being>  

3 “Financial Stress-related "Distraction Subtraction" Costing Businesses Billions”, National Payroll Institute, 2022, <https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/financial-stress-related-distraction-subtraction-costing-businesses-billions-875017579.html>

4 “Behavior Modification for Lifestyle Improvement”, National Library of Medicine, 2023, < https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK592418/#:~:text=Lifestyle%20and%20behavioral%20factors%20strongly,or%20beneficial%20to%20their%20health.>

5 ”Poor Nutrition”, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2022, < https://www.cdc.gov/chronic-disease/?CDC_AAref_Val=https://www.cdc.gov/chronicdisease/resources/publications/factsheets/nutrition.htm.>

6 ”Sleep Deprivation: Symptoms, Treatment, & Effects”, Sleep Foundation, 2024, < https://www.sleepfoundation.org/sleep-deprivation#:~:text=Even%20after%20just%20one%20night,physical%20and%20mental%20health%20problems.>