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It&rsquo;s not just you: Employees everywhere are stressed out.&nbsp;
Nearly two-thirds (61%) of Canadian workers report showing up to work while mentally or physically unwell at least once a week, according to the Q1 2026 TELUS Mental Health Index.1 Gallup&rsquo;s State of the Global Workplace: 2026 Report reflects similar data, finding that 58% of Canadian employees experienced &ldquo; a lot of stress&rdquo; the previous day, compared to 40% of employees globally.2
While some level of work-related stress will always exist, too much of it can take a toll on your mental, physical and emotional health. The impact on mental health &ndash; a topic that&rsquo;s been in the spotlight lately &ndash; includes increased risk of anxiety, burnout, depression, and more.3 On the brighter side, many organizations have stepped up their efforts around employee mental health, and people are actively seeking supports like flexible work hours and a workplace culture that respects time.4
Certainly, support will differ from company to company, and often there&rsquo;s just no getting around being busy. But with a few simple daily habits and practices, you can take charge of your mental health and take some stress out of your workday.&nbsp;&nbsp; 
<h4>1. Use the delay delivery option for emails&nbsp;</h4>
If you&rsquo;re working outside the typical 9-to-5 or across time zones, consider using the &ldquo;delay delivery&rdquo; option on email. By scheduling your email to send the next working day, you can avoid interfering with your colleagues&rsquo; and clients&rsquo; off-the-clock time, and save them from the pressure of having to respond. Another tactic is to include a message in your signature along the lines of, &ldquo;My workday may look different than yours. Please don&rsquo;t feel obliged to respond outside your normal working hours.&rdquo;&nbsp; 
<h4>2. Craft clear and actionable email subject lines&nbsp;</h4>
Chances are you and your co-workers could spend an entire day responding to messages. There are many ways to tackle email overload: For example, some people have a mission to achieve &ldquo;zero inbox,&rdquo; while others set aside time blocks throughout the day to check messages.&nbsp;&nbsp; One tactic that can help you and your colleagues is to write clear and actionable subject lines on internal emails. Subject lines should communicate exactly what the email is about in six to 10 words, as well as the deadline, if there is one. This will allow the recipient to prioritize and label the email without opening it. For example, you can begin each subject line with &ldquo;INPUT,&rdquo; &ldquo;FYI,&rdquo; or &ldquo;UPDATE,&rdquo; followed by the key information.&nbsp;&nbsp; 
<h4>3. Implement and encourage focus time&nbsp;</h4>
Meetings and interruptions often prevent people from having adequate time to focus. When people assume their co-workers are always available for impromptu, non-urgent meetings and discussions, it can impact productivity and morale.&nbsp; Consider implementing a time-management technique called &ldquo;focus time&rdquo; (or &ldquo;focus hours&rdquo;), which means scheduling uninterrupted time to get your most important work done, and encourage your co-workers to do the same. Focus time has been found to increase productivity, improve decision-making, and boost creativity. Mark this time on your calendar, along with your standard work hours, and be mindful of your colleagues&rsquo; schedules when scheduling meetings. Outside of your team, check the time zone of the meeting participants to ensure you&rsquo;re not scheduling during their off-hours or breaks.5 
<h4>4. Try unconventional meeting styles</h4>
For most people, meetings are a source of workplace stress. In fact, in a recent U.S. survey by LiveCareer, 25% of respondents said in-person meetings are stressful, 31% said online meetings are stressful, and 28% said both are equally stressful. Only 16% said neither one is stressful. The findings point to several factors that cause stress and anxiety about meetings, including lack of preparation, fear of public speaking, and increased brain activity for prolonged periods.6 When you can, think outside the boardroom. Take advantage of meetings that are conversational, or require &ldquo;listening in&rdquo; by scheduling an outdoor or walking meeting. These meeting styles allow you to move, relax, and focus while still being productive. If the weather isn&rsquo;t cooperating, try an indoor caf&eacute; or &ldquo;coffee on the couch&rdquo; meeting at the office.&nbsp; 
<h4>5. Ask for &ndash; and offer &ndash; support&nbsp;</h4>
Prioritize transparent communication and open dialogue in the workplace. If you&rsquo;re struggling with something at work, requesting support can enable you and your teammates to share resources, work together, and offer encouragement through challenges. Although it&rsquo;s okay to ask for help, it&rsquo;s not easy for everyone. One thought leader suggests taking some time to think about what you&rsquo;re trying to achieve and then figuring out what resources you need. Completing these sentences will help:
<ul>
<li>I&rsquo;m currently working on... and I could use help to...&nbsp;</li>
<li>I am struggling to... and I would benefit from...&nbsp;</li>
<li>My biggest hope is to... and I need...7 </li>
</ul>
At the same time, if you notice a co-worker struggling, check in and offer support. Hopefully, others will follow your example and you can all work together to create a less stressful workplace.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Sources
1 Telus Health "<a href="https://resources.telushealth.com/en-ca/strong-workplace-culture-can-preserve-up-to-28-days-of-productivity-per-year" title="" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Strong workplace culture can preserve up to 28 days of productivity per year</a>" 2026 2 Gallup "<a href="https://www.gallup.com/workplace/349484/state-of-the-global-workplace.aspx">State of the Global Workplace 2026 | Employee Engagement Data &amp; Trends</a>" 2026 3 Corporate Wellness Magazine, &ldquo;<a href="https://news.gallup.com/poll/394025/world-unhappier-stressed-ever.aspx" title="" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Workplace stress: A silent killer of employee health and productivity</a>&rdquo; 4 HR Reporter, &ldquo;<a href="https://www.hrreporter.com/focus-areas/compensation-and-benefits/what-are-the-top-4-mental-health-supports-desired-by-workers/369300" title="" target="_blank" rel="noopener">What are the top 4 mental health supports desired by workers?</a>&rdquo; Aug. 25, 2022 5 Microsoft, &ldquo;<a href="https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/viva/insights/tutorials/gm-focus" title="" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Best practices for focus time,</a>&rdquo; Sept. 22, 2022 6 LiveCareer, &ldquo;<a href="https://www.livecareer.com/resources/careers/planning/workplace-meetings-2022-statistics" title="" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Meeting in the workplace: 2023 Statistics</a>,&rdquo; July 25, 2023 7 Greater Good Magazine, &ldquo;<a href="https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/how_to_overcome_your_reluctance_to_ask_for_help_at_work" title="" target="_blank" rel="noopener">How to overcome your reluctance to ask for help at work,</a>&rdquo; Nov. 16, 2020

Five tips to reduce workplace stress

Purpose And Impact

Hot Topics

In today&rsquo;s digital world, staying connected has never been easier, but neither has falling victim to online scams. From phishing emails to fake websites, cybercriminals are constantly finding new ways to trick people into sharing personal information or sending money. The good news? A little awareness goes a long way. By knowing what to watch for and taking a few simple precautions, you can protect yourself and your family online. Common Warning Signs of a Scam Scammers rely on urgency, confusion, and trust to get what they want. Recognizing the red flags is your first line of defence.
<ul>
<li>Be cautious of messages from unknown or unexpected senders. Even if a message appears to come from someone you know, it&rsquo;s worth verifying&mdash;especially if it involves money. Accounts can be compromised, and scammers often impersonate trusted contacts. </li>
<li>Take a close look at links before clicking. Hover over them to check if the destination matches what&rsquo;s displayed. If a link looks suspicious or unfamiliar, don&rsquo;t click it. </li>
<li>Another major red flag is urgency. Messages claiming your account will be locked, a payment will be cancelled, or you must act immediately are designed to make you panic and react quickly before you have time to think.</li>
<li>You should also be wary of requests for sensitive personal information. Legitimate organizations will not ask for passwords, banking details, or personal identifiers via email, text, or unsolicited calls</li>
</ul>
Understanding Common Types of Scams Scams come in many forms, but most fall into a few common categories.
<ul>
<li>Phishing is one of the most widespread. It involves emails or messages that appear to come from legitimate organizations, asking you to click a link or provide personal information. </li>
<li>Vishing (voice phishing) happens over the phone. Scammers may use technology to make their calls appear as though they&rsquo;re coming from trusted businesses. </li>
<li>Smishing uses text messages to achieve similar goals&mdash;often including links that lead to fraudulent websites. </li>
<li>Pharming is more technical, redirecting users from legitimate websites to fake ones without their knowledge.</li>
</ul>
While the methods vary, the goal is always the same: to gain access to your personal or financial information. Practical Steps to Protect Yourself Protecting yourself online involves a few mindful habits.
<ul>
<li>Start by keeping your devices secure. Use up-to-date antivirus software, ideally with anti-phishing protection, and run regular scans to catch any potential threats early. </li>
<li>Use strong, unique passwords for each account. Reusing passwords makes it easier for scammers to access multiple accounts if one is compromised. </li>
<li>Be cautious when using public Wi-Fi. Open networks can be exploited to intercept your information. If you must use them, avoid logging into sensitive accounts. </li>
<li>It&rsquo;s also important to avoid downloading files or software from unknown sources. Pirated content and peer-to-peer downloads are common entry points for malware. </li>
<li>And when in doubt, leave the site. If something doesn&rsquo;t look right&mdash;whether it&rsquo;s the design, the URL, or unexpected pop-ups&mdash;exit immediately.</li>
</ul>
Staying Safe on Social Media Social media platforms can also be a gateway for scams if you&rsquo;re not careful.
<ul>
<li>Avoid sharing too much personal information, such as your birthdate, home address, or travel plans. These details can be used for identity theft or targeted scams. </li>
<li>Be selective about who you connect with. Accepting friend requests from strangers can open the door to malicious activity. </li>
<li>Think twice before clicking on quizzes, surveys, or links that seem harmless. Many are designed to collect data or install malware.</li>
</ul>
A good rule of thumb: if you wouldn&rsquo;t be comfortable sharing something publicly, don&rsquo;t post it. Smart Habits for Online Shopping Online shopping is convenient, but it also comes with risks if you&rsquo;re not careful.
<ul>
<li>Stick to secure websites. Look for &ldquo;https&rdquo; in the URL and a padlock symbol in your browser. Take an extra moment to confirm you&rsquo;re on the correct site, especially when entering payment details. </li>
<li>Whenever possible, use a credit card instead of a debit card. Credit cards typically offer better protection against fraud. </li>
<li>You can also consider using virtual or single-use credit card numbers for added security. These temporary numbers protect your actual account information during transactions. </li>
<li>Before making a purchase, check reviews and read the retailer&rsquo;s return and privacy policies. If anything seems unclear or questionable, it&rsquo;s best to move on.</li>
</ul>
What to Do If You&rsquo;ve Been Targeted Even with the best precautions, mistakes can happen.&nbsp;
<ul>
<li>If you think you&rsquo;ve clicked a suspicious link or downloaded something harmful, run a full antivirus scan immediately. </li>
<li>If you&rsquo;ve sent money or shared financial information, contact your bank or financial institution right away. The sooner they&rsquo;re aware, the better chance you have of minimizing the impact. </li>
<li>If your accounts may be compromised, change your passwords immediately starting with your email, as it&rsquo;s often the gateway to other accounts. </li>
<li>If you&rsquo;ve shared personal information, consider monitoring your credit cards and taking steps to protect your identity.</li>
</ul>
Online safety doesn&rsquo;t have to be complicated. By staying alert, questioning what you see, and taking a few proactive steps, you can significantly reduce your risk. Remember: if something seems too good to be true, it probably is. And when in doubt, pause, verify, and protect yourself.

Staying Safe Online: Simple Ways to Protect Yourself from Scams

Managing Risk

It&rsquo;s often said that change must come from the top down. But in corporate giving, the most meaningful impact often happens when employees lead the way. Rather than simply writing an annual cheque to a cause, companies can empower employees to play an active role in giving back and creating positive change.&nbsp; One effective way to do this is through an Employee Impact Fund&mdash;a dedicated pool of funding that supports employee-led volunteer and community initiatives. This type of fund flips traditional corporate giving by enabling employees to identify causes they care about and request support to bring those initiatives to life as a team. The impact of employee-led giving&nbsp; Employee Impact Funds matter on multiple levels. For communities, they support grassroots, local initiatives and ensure that funding and volunteer efforts are aligned with real community needs. Meanwhile, employees benefit from the opportunity to build ownership, pride, and purpose with their volunteer activities.&nbsp; In addition, Employee Impact Funds encourage leadership, collaboration, and active participation. They reinforce values in a tangible way and provide a clear framework for achieving meaningful community impact. They&rsquo;re also an effective way to strengthen the employee experience and boost engagement.&nbsp; As Arun Sridharan, senior manager at Sovereign Insurance in Ontario, observes, &ldquo;Combining team building with meaningful volunteering brings us closer and boosts engagement.&rdquo;&nbsp; In fact, a Deloitte survey found that 91% of employees believe volunteer opportunities can have a positive impact on their overall work experience and connection to their employer, while nearly half (49%) report it helps them build connections with their colleagues. Notably, the survey points to a ripple effect of workplace volunteer opportunities, with 90% of respondents saying these initiatives led them to participating in additional, independent volunteering activities, whether through the same organization or others in their communities.1 &nbsp; &nbsp; How Sovereign puts community giving into practice&nbsp; Sovereign Insurance has embraced this employee-led approach, with team members making a difference in their own communities. Sovereign&rsquo;s Employee Impact Fund supports a range of initiatives, from volunteering with local organizations to organizing team-based activities and in-office community drives.&nbsp; In 2025, Sovereign employees completed 2,083 volunteer hours and donated over $39,000 to local organizations and initiatives. Across the country, team members are rolling up their sleeves and supporting causes they care about. Here are just a few examples:
<ul>
<li>In Calgary, Sovereign employees volunteered at the Children&rsquo;s Cottage Society and donated $2,500 to help the organization support children and families in crisis. </li>
<li>In Vancouver, Sovereign employees got involved at Union Gospel Mission (UGM), which helps those experiencing homelessness, poverty, and addiction. The team sorted donations and contributed $2,000 to support families across the Lower Mainland. </li>
<li>Sovereign&rsquo;s Winnipeg office&mdash;along with two valued broker partners&mdash;volunteered at Harvest Manitoba and donated $2,500 to help feed hungry families. &nbsp;</li>
<li>In Toronto, Sovereign staff volunteered at Covenant House Toronto, which supports young people facing homelessness and survivors of trafficking. The team donated $3,500, sorted donations and served food to those in need.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
Ultimately, an Employee Impact Fund offers organizations a practical way to turn purpose into action. Making this shift does start with a decision at the top, but once a fund is in place, employees take the lead in supporting causes they care about in their communities.&nbsp; Getting started with an Employee Impact Fund&nbsp; Organizations looking to deepen community connections and empower their people can start by exploring how an Employee Impact Fund can support both employee engagement and meaningful local impact. A few key elements to establish include:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li>Clear guidelines to ensure fairness and manage expectations.</li>
<li>Defined focus areas aligned with organizational values.</li>
<li>A simple application and review process.</li>
<li>Integration with volunteer days to encourage hands-on participation.</li>
<li>Clear communication so employees understand how and when to apply.</li>
<li>Regularly celebrating and acknowledging employees&rsquo; efforts to use the fund and volunteer their time in meaningful ways.</li>
</ul>
For employees, Sovereign&rsquo;s Jeanne MacDonald shares this advice on where to start when looking for places to volunteer and donate: &ldquo;There are so many places you can volunteer. Find something you&rsquo;re passionate about&mdash;animals, seniors, kids&mdash;and reach out to local organizations. There&rsquo;s always a way to make a difference.&rdquo;


Sources 1 PR Newswire, &ldquo;<a href="https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/deloitte-survey-workplace-volunteer-opportunities-can-unlock-a-greater-sense-of-connection-and-a-more-positive-work-experience-for-employees-302162157.html" title="" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Deloitte Survey: Workplace volunteer opportunities can unlock a greater sense of connection and a more positive work experience for employees,</a>&rdquo; June 4, 2024.

Marcel Lawless

Associate Underwriter, Specialty Lines Solutions