Workplace stress is a serious and costly issue impacting employees’ health in Canada, according to a survey released today.

The survey, conducted for pharmaceutical firm sanofi-aventis Canada Inc., showed that 39% of respondents acknowledged that workplace stress has made them physically ill at times, up from 25% in 2002.

Respondents also expressed growing concerns about being at risk for developing chronic diseases such as cancer, heart disease and diabetes.

The company surveyed 1,500 health benefit plan members nationally concerning their attitudes and preferences about their employer-sponsored health benefit plans, the role of the public healthcare system and the workplace.

“The survey clearly indicates growing concern among employees about their health. Beyond governments, they are looking to their employers for support and access to health education and programming,” said Chris Bonnett, a member of the sanofi-aventis Healthcare Survey Advisory Board and president of Toronto-based H3 Consulting. “Plan sponsors gain a healthier and more loyal workforce, and so it makes sense to consider a comprehensive response that includes high quality and more flexible health benefit plans, and a greater emphasis on prevention.”

According to the survey, however, it appears that Canadian employees are in good health and on the right track when it comes to their well-being, with 67% of respondents reporting their health was excellent or very good over the past year.

The survey also reveals gains employers can acquire by shifting their health benefit plans to focus on prevention, including higher employee retention and satisfaction levels, improved productivity and reduced health benefit costs.

A vast majority of respondents, 83%, said they would be more likely to stay in their job if they really believed their employer was interested in maintaining their good health and 75% said they think more highly of their employer because of the health benefit plan provided.

When it comes to controlling benefit plan costs, 76% said they believe they have an obligation to help their employer control the cost of their health benefit plans and more 96% believe that preventing disease, illness or injury would help employers control those costs.

“Making this transition to focus on prevention is not an easy undertaking that can be solely carried out by plan sponsors,” says Jacques L’Esperance, president of J. L’Esperance Actuariat Conseil Inc. and a member of survey’s advisory board. “Everyone has a role to play in terms of fostering a supportive environment to nurture and address prevention as opposed to episodic and crisis management of disease.”

Fifty-three per cent of respondents have traditional plans with no choice of coverage, 15% said they prefer this type, while nearly 65% said they prefer a flexible plan.