84 per cent of workers believe employers responsible for supporting their health: Survey

Physical, psychological health considered

An overwhelming majority of Canadians believe employers are responsible for supporting their employees' physical and psychological health, according to the 2015 Sun Life Canadian Health Index.

"It is striking that our results show that 84 per cent of Canadians say that employers are responsible for supporting their employees' physical health and that 86 per cent feel the same way when asked about psychological health," said Kevin Dougherty, president of Sun Life Financial Canada.

Almost two out of five gen Y respondents believe their employer has a significant responsibility for their employees' physical health (38 per cent), as well as for their psychological health (37 per cent), which was higher than any other age group.

The survey also found there is a clear relationship between health and employee productivity. More than one-third of Canadians say their productivity at work has been negatively affected by their physical or mental health in the last six months.

Forty-seven per cent of gen Y respondents said their health had negatively impacted their work productivity in the last six months, compared with 30 per cent of late boomers and 26 per cent of early boomers. 

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