New report finds chronic and mental health conditions are exacerbated by extreme weather events

Executive Summary

• Sun Life released a new report analyzing the impact of climate change and extreme weather events on the health and productivity of Canadian employees.
• The study, based on over 2,000 Canadian employees, found that 77% have experienced extreme weather in the past three years, with significant negative impacts on both physical and mental health.
• Employees with chronic health conditions are disproportionately affected, being twice as likely to report climate-related health impacts and significantly more likely to experience reduced productivity and absenteeism.

Key Details

• Study Scope: The report surveyed over 2,000 Canadian employees regarding the intersection of climate, severe weather, and workplace health.
• Prevalence of Extreme Weather: 77% of Canadian employees reported experiencing an extreme weather event in the past three years.
• Physical Health Impact: 59% of employees stated that extreme weather impacted their physical health.
• Mental Health Impact: 54% of employees reported that climate or severe weather events impacted their mental health, with anxiety, stress, and difficulty sleeping being the most common issues.
• Chronic Condition Vulnerability: Employees with one or more chronic health conditions were two times more likely to report physical and mental health impacts from climate events.
• Productivity Loss: 54% of employees who reported mental or physical health impacts from climate events experienced reduced productivity, increased absenteeism, and lower engagement.
• Specific Chronic Conditions: Climate impacts such as air pollution and extreme weather exacerbate migraines, respiratory conditions, allergies, diabetes, and cardiovascular conditions.
• Gender Disparity: 45% of women reported that their chronic health condition is more difficult to manage or increased in severity due to climate impacts, compared to 30% of men.
• Climate Anxiety: 27% of employees reported experiencing or currently experiencing climate anxiety, rising to 47% among Gen Z employees.
• Burnout: 21% of employees reported experiencing fatigue or burnout specifically because of climate or extreme weather.
• Long-Term Disability Context: Mental health issues account for nearly 40% of long-term disability claims in Canada.
• Employer Response: 75% of employers agree that their group benefits plans can provide effective support for climate-related health issues.
• Sun Life Solutions Mentioned: The report highlights Sun Life's specialty chronic disease care programs (for diabetes, asthma, COPD), Lumino Virtual Care, Employee Assistance Programs (EAP), and online pharmacy services as tools to build health resilience.

Notable Quotes

• "Impacts on employee well-being can have major consequences for workplaces," says Marie-Chantal Côté, Senior Vice-President, Sun Life Health. "Employers play a crucial role in supporting their workforce by leveraging and bringing awareness to the resources in their group benefits plans. Empowering employees to proactively manage their health and use available supports is more important than ever in today's changing environment."