How to Take Control of Your Well-Being

THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC has had a wide-ranging impact on the global workforce, from job losses to layoffs and salary cuts. But perhaps the most ubiquitous impact has been increased stress, which can wreak havoc on us both mentally and physically.

Even before COVID-19, 58 per cent of Canadians reported experiencing excessive levels of stress at work every day. And in times of heightened uncertainty and rapid negative change, stress levels rise even further. In March of this year, my Rotman colleague John Trougakos and I launched a large scale study of well-being with workers from across Canada. We tracked over 700 employees for more than three months and in this article we will share some of our preliminary findings.

The first thing we found is that employee stress levels should be of significant concern to leaders. People are worried about their families’ health and their financial future. They are feeling increased pressure to perform, both as a parent or caregiver, as