Alan Torrie, President and CEO of Morneau Shepell, delivers a keynote speech to Canadian newspaper industry's largest annual conference

Speech focuses on stress, mental health and workforce productivity in Canada and highlights the large increase in employee stress according to its statistics as the country's largest provider of employee assistance programs

CHARLOTTETOWN, PE, May 29, 2014 /CNW/ - Alan Torrie, President and CEO of Morneau Shepell, the largest company in Canada offering human resources consulting and outsourcing services, today highlighted a doubling in employee stress to media industry leaders, publishers, newspaper executives and journalists at INK+BEYOND - the Canadian newspaper industry's largest annual conference.

"Since 2009, our cases from employee assistance calls have shown a significant increase in workplace stress, a doubling of cases from financial stress and a tripling of cases from personal stress," said Mr. Torrie. "At the same time, to compete today, we need employees who are healthy, engaged and productive. Yet all of these qualities are negatively impacted by stress."

Torrie addressed delegates on the need to intensify the conversation in Canada about the relationship between stress, mental health and the workplace - and very specifically, the impact of stress on workforce productivity in Canada today.

"The data tells us that there is a strong correlation between high stress levels and poor productivity. We also know that mental health is one of the top drivers of disability claims," added Torrie. "Mental health problems and illnesses account for more than $6 billion a year in lost productivity in Canada, with absenteeism a key factor."

Morneau Shepell is the largest employee and family assistance program (EFAP) provider in Canada, supporting employees and their families so that they can manage work, health and life challenges. With the country's largest clinical network, the program is available around the clock for approximately 8,000 client organizations and more than five million people including employees and their dependents.

Among the millions of Canadians who have access to an EFAP via their health and benefits plans, 60 per cent of those are through Morneau Shepell's program, with the Company's experts and counsellors taking approximately half a million calls from employees and their family members each year. The Company's EFAP services and expertise include, but are not limited to, family, financial, career and legal issues; critical incidence and mental health; health, nutrition and fitness coaching; and cultural and emotional challenges faced by expatriates and families on assignment. The services are accessed voluntarily by each individual and are strictly confidential.

INK+BEYOND
INK+BEYOND is the Canadian newspaper industry's largest annual conference and trade show. Each year, this annual event attracts senior-level executives from newspapers of all market sizes from across Canada, as well as executives from the corporate ownership groups. Delegates also include editors, advertising managers, circulation directors and marketing staff from large and small daily and community newspapers.

About Morneau Shepell Inc.
Morneau Shepell is the largest company in Canada offering human resources consulting and outsourcing services. The Company is the leading provider of employee and family assistance programs, as well as the largest administrator of retirement and benefits plans and the largest provider of integrated absence management solutions in Canada. Through health and productivity, administrative, and retirement solutions, Morneau Shepell helps clients reduce costs, increase employee productivity and improve their competitive position. Established in 1966, Morneau Shepell serves more than 20,000 clients, ranging from small businesses to some of the largest corporations and associations in North America. With approximately 3,500 employees in offices across North America, Morneau Shepell provides services to organizations across Canada, in the United States, and around the globe. Morneau Shepell is a publicly-traded company on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: MSI). For more information, visit morneaushepell.com.

SOURCE Morneau Shepell Inc.