Earlier this week, health insurer Desjardins Financial Security released a report on the most common triggers of mental health problems. Unsurprisingly, workplace stress topped the list:
- 64% of survey respondents claimed money was the greatest source of stress
- 59% of workers chose to scale back personal commitments
- 2/3 of respondents claimed they did not take time off when sick
- More than 50% of employees surveyed claimed to know someone currently or previously suffering from workplace stress
The most eyebrow-raising aspect of the Desjardins report is that, when combined with other information sources, it becomes clear that our work isn’t necessarily propelling Canada ahead of our “lazy†Europeans cousins – despite working roughly 43 work days more than the French, Dutch and Germans. Consider the GDP per capita of nation (in US dollars):
Canada: $34,000
Holland: $30,500
Germany: $30,400
France: $29,900
(source: CIA World Factbook)
43 additional days of work for an extra $4500 (or less) worth of production? The lowest average salary over this period would be approximately $2200 (gross paid to a minimum wage worker in New Brunswick). Of course a good number of Canadians make far more than the New Brunswick minimum wage of $6.50, and in these instances employers could be taking a hit in terms of productivity.
Most Canadians realize they are working harder than ever, in many cases for less than ever – yet many of us continue to go above and beyond in terms of servicing the workplace at the expense of our personal lives. There are several reasons for our workaholic culture but the prominent reason, in my opinion, is the need to keep up with rising living costs just to “sustain†the living standard of the previous generation. A house that sold for $60,000 in the 1970’s can now sell for several hundred thousand dollars (or even $1 million in some Toronto neighborhoods). Income increases over the same time period have not been so generous. The heavy migration of job-seekers both from inside and outside the country has led to housing resale for more than the asking price in some areas. Add to that the rising cost of gasoline and mounting credit card debts, and it becomes clear that every penny of income counts – no matter what the cost in terms of health or productivity.
Of course Canadians would be able to spend less time working if they simply retained more of the money earned. In an economy where budget surpluses are the norm at both the provincial and federal levels, governments should be able to return some money to taxpayers without serious disruption to regular services. A universal 5-7% income tax cut could provide enough additional income to families who are surviving “because of the overtimeâ€.
For this reason, Stephen Harper should seriously consider cutting income taxes. A Conservative government serious about restoring the family as primary caregiver rather than the state needs to address the economic realities that cause people to put their health and personal relationships at risk. Unlike his child tax rebate, which was only of value to people already not working (taxable income), a tax cut would benefit everyone and maybe even lead to more of the stay-at-home moms that Harper’s socially conservative supporters so persistently cherish.
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What Others Had to Say About the Desjardins Report:
- Eugene Plawiuk at Le Revue Gauche (a self-described “Libertarian Communist Blog”) cites the capitalist drive to maximize productivity/profit as the main culprit behind the increased workplace stress - “We need to quit enabling these sick bosses, who download more and more work onto us in the name of productivity, which is wage slavery. Work is driving us nuts”
It has been pointed out repeatedly by those that know about such things that there is a fixed amount of money available to be taxed. No matter how many levels of government want to dip their greasy fingers into it that supply never changes. Said “money pool” comes from a variety of sources — companies and people who work for a living to name two.
It has also been pointed out that lowering taxation levels generates new money as companies expand their operations and hire more workers (reducing the unemployed). This in turn reduces the demand for taxation to support families and expands the available pool of money subject to taxation.
In the end lower taxation generates a net profit for the government.
Regarding workplace stress — you have to be working in order to experience it. For many families that is not the case and a very important point which should be considered is the situation where families are only employed part of the year (seasonal workers).
We now have three generations that have lived their entire lives that way. They are temporary employees, unable to pay into a proper pension plan and they pay a huge price for acquiesing to the latest socialist bullshit which looks after them in the “here and now” but not later when they truly need help. At the end of their working life the only pension they get to take home is the one the government provides.
Now that’s stress!
I don’t know whether this makes sense to you and your readers but to me lowering taxes is a “win, win” situation and your entry is entirely correct in that regard.
The most important part of the picture is the potential for people to build decent pensions because they hold full-time jobs and do not have to rely on the meagre handout the government currently provides (I get $700.00 a month after paying into their plan for over 40 years).
I hold out Ireland as a classic example of how fast a country can turn itself around and I recommend you and your readers check out the “Irish Model” which is (if I understand properly) nothing more at it’s heart than a reduction in taxation. The following link will give you a starting point.
http://www.amcham.hu/BusinessHUngary/16-07/articles/16-06_18.asp
I also understand that Harper is “aware of” and favors the idea. I believe he would consider implementing the “Irish game plan” in this country in the event he wins a majority government. I’m behind him if indeed that’s what he has in mind but “first things first” — he must first gain control.
That means beating up on a lot of socialists (I really like that idea) as he continues to work his way to a majority government.
Good one — you have people thinking.
I’ll link tomorrow.
You might find it interesting that a leftist would agree with you about income tax cuts.
See my post: Cut Income Taxes Now
Interesting you brng up the seasonal employment issue. I had the (mis)fortune of losing my previous job during a corporate takeover (actually I hated it, so no harm really) and had to temporarily go on EI. The ladies at the desk were astonished to see me … because they’d never seen me before. Most of the other EI recipients they knew on a first name basis. Assistance is a passively-embraced way of life for many workers. However it doesn’t end there - one qualification is that the EI recipient has to take some training, and so the taxpayer pays for extra training that in all likelyhood will never be used.
It’s truly a waste of money. Harper should worry about this right after he makes the tax cut.
As for the Ireland example, it is encouraging as presented. However I want to do some more research before giving it the complete green light. As your article noted, American business interests play a heavy role in local policy, which may or may not be to the benefit of the locals. Of course AmCham will put a positive spin on this “cooperation”; let’s see that other Irish people have to say. That said, the Ireland model seems to be more prosperous on its face than say the France model.