Cost-of-living pressures are the leading source of financial stress for workers in Canada, according to the latest TELUS Mental Health Index, with financial anxiety also having a measurable impact on workplace productivity.

TELUS Health’s Q2 2026 report found that 63 per cent of workers identify the cost of living as their primary financial stressor, compared with 12 per cent who are most concerned about retirement savings and eight per cent who cite emergency savings. One in five workers say financial stress has directly affected their productivity at work.

Key findings include:

  • 35 per cent of workers report feeling worried or anxious about their finances often or always.
  • 28 per cent do not have emergency savings sufficient to cover their basic needs.
  • Workers without emergency savings are nearly three times more likely to report that financial stress has affected their productivity.
  • 60 per cent of workers contributing to a workplace retirement or savings plan do not fully understand how the plan works.
  • 63 per cent would like more employer-provided resources, communications, or support related to retirement, pensions, or savings.
  • Workers under 40 are 3.5 times more likely than workers over 50 to report that financial stress negatively affects their productivity.
  • Parents are 80 per cent more likely to report productivity losses related to financial strain.

The report also highlights the pressures facing workers with caregiving responsibilities. Twenty-seven per cent of Canada’s workforce provides financial support or care to adult children or aging parents. Among these workers, 37 per cent report a negative impact on their finances, 32 per cent report an impact on their mental health, and 15 per cent report an impact on their work productivity.

Beyond financial concerns, the Index found that workplace stigma continues to affect whether employees feel comfortable discussing their mental health. Less than half of workers, 49 per cent, say they feel comfortable telling their manager about a mental health issue.

The Q2 2026 TELUS Mental Health Index is based on an online survey of 3,000 employed adults in Canada conducted between June 5 and June 18, 2026.

For further information, or to read the full findings: click here.