Workers' happiness also drops just before end of 2024
About a year and a half since the end of the COVID-19 pandemic, workers have yet to return to taking vacations at a level they were before the global health emergency, according to a recent report.
Just under a third (31%) of workers in Canada took all of their allotted vacation time for 2024, according to ADP.
That number is similar to data for 2023 but is still well below pre-pandemic figures (48%).
That may be because workers are hoping to avoid paying "time-off tax" – the additional time worked before and after a one-week vacation to prepare and catch up on top of regular work hours.
Overall, workers in Canada who took vacation this year claim to have paid 13.6 extra hours.
"While the holiday season can embrace feelings of relaxation, comfort and celebration, for many workers in Canada that are able to take time off for the holidays, it may also pose additional stressors in preparation for and recovering from this week,” says Heather Haslam, vice president of marketing at ADP Canada.
“By offering work-life balance options, flexible deadlines, and structured hand off processes, employees can feel more supported as they prepare and return from vacation – encouraging paid time off rather than fraying from it.”
More than three in five employees across the world feel "vacation deprived,” according to a previous Expedia report.
Overall, Canadians’ National Work Happiness Score for December 2024 is 6.6/10, based on ADP Canada’s monthly Happiness@Work Index.
The number is down 0.1-point from November, though unchanged from December 2023.
Meanwhile, the numbers dropped slightly in two of the secondary indicators, and remained the same in the other two:
Employers are not getting the most from most of their employers, judging by the findings of a recent study. Overall, just 22% of employees globally are “thriving” at work, according to a recent Indeed report.
Almost half (45%) of workers in Canada feel satisfied with their current roles and responsibilities, with half of the secondary indicators showing a slight decrease this month, “reflecting a negative trend in overall employee well-being reminiscent of past months' downward trends,” says ADP.
Among age groups, Boomers appear to the happiest:
Regionally, Quebec and Atlantic Canada are outperforming the rest of the country in this regard:
“A supportive workplace culture requires a universal approach; offering resources both within and outside the workplace. While every employee situation is unique, ensuring your workplace has clear understanding of the health and financial resources available can help employees navigate additional stressors commonly felt during the holiday season,” says Haslam.
A supportive culture is essential to achieving work-life balance for workers, according to a previous report.
