If you’re a young, pregnant woman living in a Western province who works at an outdoor job, you’re more likely than average to experience climate anxiety.
Some 77 per cent of people covered by a workplace group benefits plan faced an extreme weather event between 2022 and 2024, according to a report released by Sun Life Financial. And nearly three in five (59 per cent) say that the event had an impact on their physical health.
The study, entitled How climate and extreme weather are impacting workplace health in Canada, was published on Sept. 24. Survey respondents were over 18 and employed full-time. Details on methodology are provided at the end of this article.
Climate anxiety or eco-anxiety has been documented in several studies and affects younger people in particular, the report’s authors note. They also point out that survivors of natural disasters may experience medium and long-term effects similar to post-traumatic stress disorder.
The impacts of extreme weather are not distributed equally, according to the study. The risks are greater for people with chronic illness, women (especially during pregnancy), young adults and those working outdoors.
In Western Canada and the Prairie provinces, the study shows that more employees report climate-related impacts on their health. Respondents in Quebec were the least likely to have experienced such effects.
Various impacts
Heat waves, storms and wildfires are among the climate events cited as affecting health. The heat wave that struck British Columbia in 2021 is believed to have caused more than 600 deaths, according to a 2023 study by the Canadian Climate Institute.
High winds accompanying certain storms lift pollen, which can trigger asthma attacks. Flooding from heavy rainfall can make homes unsafe or cause prolonged power outages. Medications requiring refrigeration may be lost.
Wildfire smoke contains fine particulates that can damage lung health. Other chronic diseases can be worsened by poor air quality.
Over the longer term, extreme weather causes lasting problems. Exposure to some air pollutants associated with climate warming increases the risk of respiratory and cardiovascular disease as well as cancer and premature death, according to a Health Canada report published in 2021.
The increase in allergens resulting from the spread of certain plant species extends allergy season, with consequences for people with asthma. More ticks, mice and mosquitoes also mean more disease vectors.
Workplace health
The survey also aims to highlight workplace concerns, both from the perspective of employees and managers. Employees report various climate-related effects on their health.
“The most common were fatigue/exhaustion, headaches or migraines, allergies and eye irritation. Heat stress, skin conditions, respiratory issues and dehydration were also reported.”
About 54 per cent of employees report recent impacts on their mental health: anxiety, stress and difficulty sleeping are the most common. Access to psychological care has improved, but mental health remains a major issue. According to Sun Life data, mental disorders account for nearly 40 per cent of long-term disability claims.
“Many employees say climate-related health impacts affect their work and productivity,” the report’s authors write. Employees who report physical health effects are almost twice as likely to take time off or feel less productive and engaged.
The report allows Sun Life to highlight that a majority of employees are unaware of the details of their group benefits plan and what it can do to help them. Employers should take note and support their staff in this regard, suggests Marie-Chantal Côté, Senior Vice-President, Sun Life Health, in the news release accompanying the report.
About 61 per cent of employers say the impacts of climate change on employee health pose a risk to their organization. Employers in businesses with fewer than 100 workers are less likely (37 per cent) to make the same observation, contradicting the results obtained from the employee survey.
Mental health support, chronic disease management programs and online pharmacy are among the solutions included in group benefits coverage, the report adds.
Methodology
The study outlines the methodology used to survey respondents. The surveys were conducted online, in English and French, in December 2024. The sample of participants complies with the standards of the Canadian Research and Insights Council and is representative in terms of company size, geographic distribution and demographics.
The employer survey was conducted within Canadian companies that offer group benefits. Of the 507 respondents, there were 251 people managers responsible for at least 10 employees, as well as 256 senior executives or leaders.
A total of 2,079 people working in Canadian companies with a group benefits plan also participated in the survey. Respondents were either individual contributors or team managers with fewer than 10 employees. Environics Research partnered with Sun Life on this study.
