In a tight labour market, could wellness programs help recruit and retain employees?

This article appeared in the February 2025 issue of Country Guide. Another important read for Mental Health Awareness Month.

Glacier FarmMedia – Investing in employee well-being pays off.

Beverley Beuermann-King, a mental health and resiliency expert in Little Britain, Ont., says return on investment (ROI) data for corporate wellness programs shows that investing in employee well-being results in improved employee engagement, increased productivity, reduced absenteeism and fewer injuries.

A study by Deloitte, for example, found a median annual ROI of $1.62 for every dollar invested in wellness initiatives. When programs were in place for three years, the ROI increased to $2.18. Employees who participated in wellness programs also reported higher levels of productivity and job satisfaction.

Roberta Galbraith, who operates a grain and oilseeds farm with her husband and two sons near Minnedosa, Man., says they have become more intentional about promoting well-being since the 2016 University of Guelph surveys showed that farmers experience high levels of stress, burnout and mental illness.

Galbraith says even little things can make a difference.

For instance, during the busy season the Galbraiths conduct regular check-ins with employees to see how everyone is doing.

To support healthy eating and hydration, everyone is supplied with an insulated water bottle and filtered water. In the busy spring planting and fall harvest seasons, Galbraith takes healthy meals to the fields.

At 5 p.m. each day everyone takes a 20-minute break to stretch their legs, have a visit and talk to their kids.

The farm also has a Health Spending Account which covers medical expenses such as dental and vision.

In winter, they play hockey or curl, and they host a monthly cards night for the neighbours. Galbraith says it’s important to have social opportunities because farm life can be very isolating.

Stephanie Maynard, and husband Philippe Quinn, have also found it worthwhile to invest in wellness initiatives for themselves and their employees at their fruit and vegetable farm (and a farm store and U-pick operation) in Notre-Dame-de-I’Ile-Perrot, Que.

“We have an incredible team who often work extra hours and go the extra mile. We can’t afford to have a major player out for weeks or months with an injury. We prefer to offer preventative measures to avoid that as much as possible,” explains Maynard.

The services of an osteopath, dental hygienist and personal trainer are available at no cost to employees at the farm on a regular basis. The work at their agri-tourism operation is hard and stressful, notes Maynard, especially with customer service and a large seasonal team to manage. She explains that by bringing these services to the farm, they alleviate the burden of employees booking appointments and finding the time to go to them. “By getting these things done at work, they have more time on their days off for resting, to be ready to come back to work.”

Maynard explains they prefer to offer services that are beneficial than to pay into an insurance program that staff may or may not use. Full-time staff can also submit receipts for reimbursement up to $500 annually for wellness treatments such as massage and acupuncture. “Everyone has different needs, so we’re trying to make sure there is something of benefit for everyone,” she says.

They also recognize there is a connection between mental and physical health. “If you are struggling with pain, it wears on you. Maybe you’re not sleeping well, you worry about it and all of that has an impact on your mental state.” They also try to make it easy for their employees to incorporate exercise into their daily routine because it has a positive impact on mental health.

Beuermann-King acknowledges that most wellness programs have been designed for larger companies with many employees and can feel out of reach for small businesses. However, she points out that low- or no-cost, in-house programs can also be very effective.

Beuermann-King points out that there are a host of free mental health services available to Canadian farm families. “We should be encouraging each other to take advantage of them. There is strength shown when we reach out for help, clarity or even just to vent.”

Mental health resources
A list of mental health resources available to farmers can be found on the Canadian Agriculture Safety Association website: casa-acsa.ca/en/mental-health/