90% of Canadian employees believe empathy is crucial to wellbeing: EY survey

A new EY survey, released on Tuesday, finds that empathetic leadership can increase morale, productivity and inclusivity

The EY Empathy in Business Survey found that:

• 38 per cent of people not engaged at work say their wellbeing isn’t being prioritized;
• 55 per cent have previously left a job because the company didn’t value their wellbeing;
• 31 per cent say their company doesn’t focus on fostering a sense of belonging;
• 89 per cent agree that leading with empathy helps to increase job satisfaction; and
• 88 per cent say empathy is essential to fostering a more inclusive workplace environment

Andrea Wolfson

“While physical health and safety is at the centre of many conversations, the narrative needs to evolve to be more inclusive of psychological wellbeing,” said Andrea Wolfson, EY Canada People Advisory Services Partner. “This is especially important in a tight talent market where workers want to feel their needs — both personal and professional — are being listened to, understood and accommodated by their leadership.

“To make meaningful change, organizations need to put humans at the centre through empathetic leadership. But it doesn’t stop there. Empathy as a management style must be rewarded — from the CEO down — in the same lens they would view productivity or profitability in order to create lasting impact.”

The survey also found:

• 91 per centsay empathy in the workplace is important, indicating that it can lead to better leadership and help build trust within a team. There are also tangible business benefits, with more than three-quarters of respondents indicating that they are increasingly productive, efficient and creative when mutual empathy is present;
• 87 per cent of employees believe that leaders who practice genuine empathy can positively influence employees’ mental health and overall wellbeing;
• 88 per cent say empathy is essential to fostering a more inclusive workplace environment;
• 55  per cent of employees have previously left a job because the company didn’t value their wellbeing — with this number being even more prevalent among Gen Z (65 per cent) employees;
• 46 per cent of employees feel that their company’s efforts to be empathetic towards them are dishonest — with men (50 per cent) more likely to feel this way than women (42 per cent)

(Mario Toneguzzi is Managing Editor of Canada’s Podcast. He has more than 40 years of experience as a daily newspaper writer, columnist, and editor. He worked for 35 years at the Calgary Herald, covering sports, crime, politics, health, faith, city and breaking news, and business. He works as well as a freelance writer for several national publications and as a consultant in communications and media relations/training. Mario was named in 2021 as one of the Top 10 Business Journalists in the World by PR News – the only Canadian to make the list)