Burnout continues to affect a significant portion of the Canadian workforce, with little progress made since 2023 when between one-quarter and one-third of Canadians reported experiencing it.

Recent research in various areas, including public health and health care, shows that burnout often stems from organizational practices and the pressures they impose, rather than individual failings. Factors like high job demands and emotional exhaustion are key contributors.

According to a June 2024 report from Boston Consulting Group, 52 per cent of Canadians are struggling with burnout. A separate report from Mental Health Research Canada provides further light on the matter, revealing that 24 per cent of Canadians feel burned out at work “most of the time” or “always” and 42 per cent “sometimes.” Only nine per cent report “never” feeling burned out.

The employment platform Glassdoor has also seen a significant rise in discussions about burnout. Until recently, employees writing reviews about employers rarely mentioned burnout. Now, there has been a 44 per cent increase in reviews mentioning burnout compared to 2020.

In the face of this ongoing issue, Canadians have been increasingly advocating for remote work to alleviate some causes of burnout. In August 2023, one in four employees wished they could work from home more often than they did.

Research indicates that remote work provides employees with greater autonomy, time savings and flexibility, enabling better work-life........

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