Working Canadians report work and financial struggles leading to burnout
Many Canadians are feeling that work is taking more than it’s giving with financial pressure grinding them down to burnout.
Stress, overwork, and rising costs are eroding wellbeing and emotional burnout is widespread, according to a new survey conducted by Harris & Partners which reveals that more than half of respondents have reported feeling drained or overwhelmed in the past year.
The financial toll is alarming with a third of respondents indicating they’ve had to rely on credit just to afford essentials like groceries or rent, while over a third admitted to skipping meals or forgoing basic needs to make ends meet.
Taking on extra duties without additional pay (21%) and working unpaid overtime (15%) are common and more than half of respondents said their workloads have increased over the past year, leaving workers overextended and undervalued.
“These findings paint a concerning picture of how stretched Canadians are right now,” says Joshua Harris, CEO of Harris & Partners. “People are sacrificing their wellbeing to keep up — and that’s simply not sustainable.”
The survey found that some are delaying vacations and personal time off, pushing rest further down their list of priorities. Others are skipping doctor’s appointments or postponing mental health support — not out of choice, but necessity.
A growing number even admit they’ve withdrawn from friends and family, unable to manage the emotional load of staying connected while struggling to stay afloat, while over half of respondents said financial strain has made them consider changing jobs or even careers entirely. Some already have.
Worryingly, many Canadians don’t know where to turn including almost one in three who said they wouldn’t know what to do if their finances became unmanageable with less than 40% feel confident about where to get help.
Harris says too many people are suffering in silence.
“When people start skipping meals, missing medical care, or isolating from loved ones, it’s clear we’re beyond a short-term issue,” he adds. “This is a long-term pressure cooker that needs real solutions.”
