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This annual report is published by Environics Research following a Canada-wide survey, conducted to understand Canadians’ attitudes toward health and virtual care. The research was sponsored by Dialogue; however, the sponsor of the research was not shared with respondents, ensuring unbiased data collection.
The 2021 survey was completed by 1,760 Canadians – representing all age groups and all provinces (except Nunavut, Northwest Territories and Yukon Territories) – between September 8 and 22, 2021.
This is the second consecutive year this survey has been fielded; conducted with the intention of measuring changes in Canadians’ attitudes over the past year, while also understanding the evolving health landscape in Canada.
Canadians report worsened health and mental health due to the pandemic. As a result, many have become more conscious of their health and are willing to do more to protect it – and many hope to take better care of themselves through their employee benefit plan.
Fast, convenient access to healthcare remains a frustration, with Canadians now more likely to report that COVID-19 has made it difficult to access healthcare.
Virtual care (healthcare, stress and mental health, legal and financial help, counselling and more provided remotely via audio, video and other technologies) is a potential solution to help Canadians manage their health and mental wellness, and access timely support. The majority of working Canadians continue to expect employers to include such offerings as part of their employee benefit plans. Employers need to choose virtual care services carefully, matching the expectations of their employees. Employers also need to choose providers that make it easy for employees to understand their benefits, and where and how to access them – a lack of due diligence in ensuring employee understanding may be perceived as a lack of commitment to corporate wellness.
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Employee benefit plans often provide access to healthcare and mental health support; however, there is a lack of awareness of what is available – and what is available is not always sufficient.
Two in ten Canadians with employee benefit plans are not aware of the benefits available to them; and a quarter (26%) don’t know how to access the benefits available to them (e.g., via an app, a toll-free number, etc.).
Additionally, 32% of Canadians with employee benefit plans indicate not having, or not being aware of, an Employee Assistance Program (EAP – legal, family, career counselling, mental health support, and more). Among those who have access to an Employee Assistance Program, almost six in ten (57%) have never accessed it.
(e.g., fitness, yoga)
(e.g., consulting with a therapist)
(e.g., legal, family, career counselling, mental health support, etc.)
(e.g., mindfulness, meditation)
(e.g., consulting with a doctor)
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Most Canadians’ experience with virtual care is limited to telephone appointments with healthcare professionals, with 52% having had a telephone appointment with a family doctor or clinic. However, we know this is not an optimal virtual care experience rooted in best practices (as indicated by the Canadian Medical Association Virtual Care Playbook for physicians) and creating a positive experience with virtual care will be critical to uptake. There are a few things Canadians expect when accessing virtual care.
82% of working Canadians agree that employers should provide virtual care services for their employees.
With Canadians reporting worsened health and half reporting worsened mental health due to the pandemic, the potential negative impact on employers can be significant, translating to lost productivity, absenteeism, and unmotivated employees.
In addition, difficulties in accessing healthcare and mental health support will worsen the issue.
Employers in Canada recognize that the good health and mental wellness of their workers leads to a productive and successful work environment. To ensure that employees remain healthy and productive, leading employers must prioritize corporate wellness, and take proactive steps to support their employees’ overall physical and mental health.
Virtual care continues to be a long-term solution – an approach that Canadians are getting more comfortable with, indicating that it is a well-received approach to accessing healthcare that will be utilized post-pandemic.
Virtual care is not just a solution to healthcare during the pandemic; its benefits are far-reaching, and the pandemic has simply sped up its adoption and acceptance. Having easy access to care when needed will always be important, it allows Canadians to take control of their own health and mental well-being.
Canadians would like to see their employers provide virtual care services, as well as additional mental health support, as part of their benefit plans. They report that, if such services and resources were available through employee benefit plans, they would be likely to use them.
For employers seeking to promote corporate wellness – and build healthy, productive teams and competitive benefits packages – virtual care and providing online access to other employee benefits may help achieve this.
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