A new national survey reveals that more than half of Canadians are experiencing burnout as rising living costs, heavier workloads and unpaid overtime push workers to a breaking point.The survey, conducted by Harris & Partners, a Licensed Insolvency Trustee firm, gathered responses from 1,731 Canadians and found 58% reported feeling burned out or emotionally drained in the past year. Financial strain was also widespread, with 36.9% saying they had skipped essentials to make ends meet and 33.1% relying on credit to pay for basic needs like groceries or rent.“Burnout, debt, and unpaid labour are becoming part of everyday life,” said Joshua Harris, CEO of Harris & Partners. “It’s unsustainable — and it’s taking a significant toll on people’s mental health.”.A total of 76.3% said job or financial pressures had negatively affected their mental health, while over half — 52.6% — said their workload had increased over the past year without proportional compensation. Nearly 15% admitted to working unpaid overtime and more than 1 in 5 reported taking on extra duties without additional pay.The report also highlights the difficult choices Canadians are making. About 34.4% said they delayed holidays or personal time off, 20.3% struggled to pay bills, 14.1% put off medical or mental health care, and 13.7% postponed time with friends or family. More than half — 54.5% — said financial stress made them consider switching jobs, while 11.4% already had.The survey further found that 29.2% wouldn’t know where to turn if their financial situation worsened, and only 39.3% felt confident in knowing where to get help.“This is a long-term pressure cooker that needs real solutions,” said Harris, urging greater awareness of financial supports and professional advice available from Licensed Insolvency Trustees.
