Sun Life & Environics Research – Climate Research Report

A national Sun Life survey found that climate change and extreme weather are already affecting workplace health in Canada. The report emphasizes that as these impacts worsen, employers can use group benefits plans as a first line of action to support employee resilience and address related health issues.

How climate and extreme weather are impacting workplace health in Canada

Sun Life, in partnership with Environics Research, conducted a national survey and created a research report, How climate and extreme weather are impacting workplace health in Canada, addressing the effects of climate and extreme weather events on workplace health. The report also details how group benefits plans are positioned to assist climate-related resilience in organizations. The survey interviewed 2,000 full-time Canadians over the age of 18, while also getting data from 500 Canadian employers, spread across a range of small, medium, and large enterprises.

“The data tells a compelling story: climate and extreme weather are affecting how Canadians feel, work, and cope. Our work with Sun Life highlights the role group benefits can play as a first line of action — connecting employees to support before climate-related health challenges escalate.”

Bernice Cheung

Vice-President, Financial Services at Environics Research

of employees say their physical and mental health has been affected by climate and extreme weather.

of employers agree that climate-related effects on employee health are a risk to their organization.

The findings in this report highlight that climate-related health impacts will likely continue and could worsen as extreme weather trends persist. Therefore, it has never been more important for employers to find solutions to address this ongoing pattern. One support employers can leverage are group benefits plans. This is the ‘first line of action’ for employees, not only raising awareness on the matter, but redirecting them to assess their relationship with common existing health issues, such as mental health, chronic diseases, and women’s health.

Read more about Sun Life’s findings and how climate and extreme weather are impacting workplace health.

Sun Life Report