Workplace Wellness

The Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) can provide advice on managing wellness in the workplace, but we are not mental health experts. If you need an expert in this area or other support, here are some resources you can reach out to:

If an individual is in crisis and could harm themselves or others, call 911.

The Crisis Services Canada helpline is 1-833-456-4566 or you can text 45645 (except Quebec)

In Quebec, call 1-866-277-3553

Encourage the employee to seek medical help, either through their family physician or a mental health professional. If your company offers an EAP (Employee Assistance Program) the employee can use that to access mental health aid.

Here are some trusted sources:

Canadian Mental Health Association 

Crisis Services Canada 

Mental Health Commission of Canada

Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety

Anxiety Canada

By initiating and encouraging discussion around wellness, employees feel empowered to make decisions that will help reduce the stress they experience in the workplace. Wellness in the workplace improves morale and productivity and reduces absenteeism.

• Provide healthy snacks
• Ensure easy access to drinking water
• Encourage employees to step away from their workspace at break times
• Ensure employees take their vacation time
• Put a Disconnecting from Work policy in place. Click hereInformation of Blog for a free template
• Offer an Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Reduce the stigma around discussing mental health
• Offer flexible work schedules and arrangements, e.g., working from home. Read more here Information of Blog
• Encourage employees to eat healthily and to get enough rest
• Put up workplace wellness posters encouraging mindfulness, respectfulness, and tension release exercises. 
  • Get your free printable posters here Information of Blog .

Our article Introducing wellness into the workplace provides more insight into how you can get buy-in from staff and management.

Stress is when you have too many demands and expectations placed on you – but you know there will be an end to it, and once the situation changes you will feel better. Burnout is caused by long-term untreated stress, making you feel empty and disengaged.

Our blog post Burnout: what it is and how to deal with it talks about the causes and symptoms of burnout and provides suggestions for how to prevent it.

A Respectful Workplace Statement clearly lays out your company culture and the work environment you want to foster, helping employees to feel respected and valued.

You can learn more about why you should have a Respectful Workplace Statement in our blog, Respectful Workplace Statement: Building loyalty, value, and morale

Click here Information of Blog to access our Respectful Workplace Statement template and accompanying poster.

Pandemic fatigue is a type of burnout that is specific to the conditions placed on us by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Pandemic Fatigue may include feelings of fatigue, frustration, anxiety, loneliness, and demotivation.

Our blog, Pandemic Fatigue: more than a typical bad day at work, breaks down the symptoms of pandemic fatigue and provides tips on recognizing those symptoms in yourself and others.