Ceridian Survey Reveals Only 22 % of Organizations Feel They Deliver Adequate Wellness Programming

Canadian Organizations Acknowledge Importance of Proactive, Preventative Mental Health Solutions

TORONTO, June 4, 2013 /CNW/ - A recent Ceridian Canada survey* reveals that more than 90% of Canadian organizations regard mental health as an important part of an overall health and wellness strategy. Yet only 22% of respondents say they believe the services they have in place to support employee mental wellness are adequate.

"The survey results indicate there has been a significant shift in employer thinking," says Estelle Morrison, vice president of clinical and wellness services of Ceridian.

"The previously- held view that employers need to support only those employees who are struggling with a mental health problem has evolved to one of supporting all employees in maintaining good mental health through prevention. The majority of employers now recognize that mental health is not only managed by a clinical treatment approach and recovery strategies, but also through preventative measures. Disease prevention, and not just the treatment of illness, is a foundational element of any effective wellness strategy, including a mental wellness strategy."

The next step for more than 75% of Canadian employers, as per the survey, seems to be to identify and implement appropriate preventative solutions to support mental health, such as training and education, with a strong regard for reducing stigma and encouraging proactive behaviour and lifestyle change.

"We need to encourage individuals to manage their mental health in the same way they would their physical health," adds Morrison. "Employers can play an important role in shaping how we view our mental health, and in supporting employees in reducing risks that are associated with an increased risk for developing a mental health problem."

Key findings from the study entitled, Workplace Wellness: A Proactive Stance on Mental Health are:

• 85% of respondents state that employee mental health is either an important component or under consideration to becoming an important component of their organization's formal wellness strategy;
• More than 88% of respondents cited 'addressing stress' as their organization's most significant mental health concern;
• Respondents' top three priorities for mental health program development are:
• Employee effectiveness training (50%) on topics such as stress management, resilience-building and conflict resolution;
• A wellness program (42.8%) to promote self-care including activities such as yoga, meditation and walking clubs;
• Specialized consultations (43%) to support people managers in understanding mental health issues and effectively addressing potential mental health problems.

Also uncovered in the study was that more than 40% of Canadian organizations have reviewed the CSAs national standard on Psychological Health & Safety in the Workplace, released January 2013. Among those who reported having reviewed the standard, more than 60% were actively reviewing their policies and procedures to assess for compliance.

To learn more, download a complimentary copy of Ceridian's research report: The Growing Importance of Preventative Mental Health and Wellness Services.

* About the Survey
Ceridian Canada executed Workplace Wellness: Taking a Proactive Stance on Mental Health, between April 30 and May 11, 2013. More than 400 Canadian HR professionals representing small, mid-sized and large organizations across a wide variety of industries responded to our online survey. The margin of error of the survey is +/- 4.9%, at a 95% confidence level.

About LifeWorks
The LifeWorks service is a comprehensive EAP, Work-Life, and Wellness program offered by Ceridian that provides employees and family members with access to telephonic, in person and online services to address personal and work related issues. Employers realize returns in reduced absenteeism, increased productivity, lower turnover and reduced health care costs.

About Ceridian
Ceridian is a leader in human capital management with more than 100,000 clients in over 50 countries. We deliver trusted results and transformative technology. Our offering includes the award winning, cloud-based Dayforce HCM, LifeWorks, PowerPay and International Payroll. Ceridian is transforming the world of work. For more information, visit www.ceridian.ca or call 1-877-237-4342.
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SOURCE: Ceridian Canada Ltd.

Donna Teggart
Ceridian Corporation
905-947-7251 (c) 647-388-2464
[email protected]