Sources of workplace stress

Working Canadians feel most stressed by jobs that keep them at work too long or make too many demands on their time. At the same time, job security has become less of a concern.

These conclusions, reported in the analytical article "Sources of workplace stress" in the June online edition of Perspectives on labour and income, are based on the General Social Survey, an annual telephone survey covering about 25,000 people aged 15 and over in the 10 provinces.

In 1994 and 2000, the highest proportion of working Canadians - more than one-third (34%) - cited too many demands or hours as the most common source of stress in the workplace.

However, over this period, stress about job security decreased. In 1994, when the economy was emerging from a prolonged recession and the unemployment rate was hovering around 10%, almost one-quarter of workers (22%) cited fear of losing their job or being laid off as their main source of stress. By 2000, when the economy was expanding and jobs were relatively plentiful, this figure dropped to 13%.

In 2000, 15% cited poor interpersonal relations, and 13% cited risk of accident and injury. Even though the introduction of new technology into a workplace can be a source of stress, only 1 worker in 10 reported that they were stressed by having to learn new computer skills.

Work schedules also play a role in stress at work. One-quarter of individuals who worked rotating shifts worried about the risk of accident or injury, compared with only 11% of regular daytime workers.

Occupation was a key determinant. Managers and professionals were significantly more likely than workers in primary industries to report stress from too many demands or hours. Holding other factors constant, employees in health occupations were about seven times more likely than employees in management, business, finance, or science occupations to cite fear of accident or injury.

Sources of stress also varied between men and women. Holding other factors constant, men were less likely than women to feel stress as a result of too many hours or demands, but were 1.3 times more likely to feel stress from fear of accident or injury.

Both self-employed workers and those working full time were significantly more likely than employees or part-time workers to feel the time crunch of too many demands or hours.

Many employers have implemented employee assistance programs to address the human and financial costs associated with stress. The 1999 Workplace and Employee Survey found that 26% of employees had access to such programs.

The article "Sources of workplace stress" is available in the June 2003 online edition of Perspectives on labour and income, Vol. 4, no. 6 (75-001-XIE, $5/$48).

For more information, or to enquire about the concepts, methods or data quality of this release, contact Cara Williams (613-951-6972; cara.williams@statcan.gc.ca), Labour and Household Surveys Analysis Division.