Work-life balance
Data categories
Work-life balance means devoting a sustainable amount of time and energy to work, as well as to other personal commitments. This sustainability is important in building a healthy and supportive workplace. Balance and rest help to prevent stress and burnout, and foster creativity and new ideas.
DND/CAF provides programs and services to balance the professional and personal lives of its employees and members, including alternative work arrangements, such as flexible schedules and telework. Prioritizing work-life balance contributes to a healthy and innovative culture.
Sentiment towards work-life balance
The first two tables show metrics from DND public service employees and CAF members from the 2022 Your Say Matters (YSM) survey. The second two charts are from the 2020-2021 and 2022-2023 Public Service Employee Survey (PSES).
Defence Team
| category | subcategory - Agree | Due to work-related duties, I have to make changes to my plans for personal and family activities | During my work, I often feel emotionally drained | The demands of my work interface with my home and family life | To succeed, you cannot let family interfere with work |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | Overall | 52% | 43% | 49% | 20% |
| Gender | All Men | 55% | 42% | 51% | 21% |
| Gender | All Women | 42% | 43% | 43% | 16% |
| Gender | DND public service employees Men | 28% | 35% | 27% | 9% |
| Gender | DND public service employees Women | 22% | 37% | 29% | 10% |
| Gender | Primary Reserve Men | 57% | 41% | 55% | 15% |
| Gender | Primary Reserve Women | 62% | 39% | 55% | 20% |
| Gender | Regular Force Men | 63% | 45% | 56% | 27% |
| Gender | Regular Force Women | 55% | 52% | 55% | 20% |
| Component | DND public service employees | 26% | 36% | 28% | 10% |
| Component | Primary Reserve | 59% | 42% | 56% | 18% |
| Component | Regular Force | 61% | 46% | 56% | 26% |
| CAF Rank | Overall Junior Non-Commissioned Member | 63% | 45% | 55% | 29% |
| CAF Rank | Overall Junior Officer | 60% | 44% | 62% | 21% |
| CAF Rank | Overall Senior Non-Commissioned Member | 52% | 47% | 49% | 19% |
| CAF Rank | Overall Senior Officer | 74% | 45% | 63% | 18% |
| CAF Rank | Primary Reserve Junior Non-Commissioned Member | 72% | 39% | 67% | 23% |
| CAF Rank | Primary Reserve Junior Officer | 52% | 40% | 65% | N/A |
| CAF Rank | Primary Reserve Senior Non-Commissioned Member | 39% | 45% | 36% | N/A |
| CAF Rank | Primary Reserve Senior Officer | 81% | 42% | 61% | 12% |
| CAF Rank | Regular Force Junior Non-Commissioned Member | 60% | 46% | 52% | 30% |
| CAF Rank | Regular Force Junior Officer | 64% | 47% | 61% | 23% |
| CAF Rank | Regular Force Senior Non-Commissioned Member | 59% | 47% | 57% | 20% |
| CAF Rank | Regular Force Senior Officer | 69% | 46% | 65% | 22% |
Data Source: Your Say Matters: Defence Team Well-Being Survey (2022)
DND public service employees
Overall, to what extent do the following factors cause you work-related stress?
| category | subcategory - Agree | Year | Balancing work and personal life | Feeling disconnected from colleagues | Competing or constantly changing priorities | Difficulty accessing my work tools or network (eg, work email, work device, ergonomic equipment) | Physical work environment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | Overall | 2018 | 15% | N/A | 21% | N/A | 8% |
| Overall | Overall | 2019 | 12% | N/A | 19% | N/A | 8% |
| Overall | Overall | 2020 | 15% | 15% | 17% | 14% | 8% |
| Overall | Overall | 2022 | 16% | 11% | 20% | 13% | 9% |
| Age | 24 years and under | 2018 | 12% | N/A | 12% | N/A | 5% |
| Age | 24 years and under | 2019 | 10% | N/A | 9% | N/A | 4% |
| Age | 24 years and under | 2020 | 9% | 13% | 6% | 10% | 3% |
| Age | 24 years and under | 2022 | 14% | 12% | 11% | 11% | 7% |
| Age | 25 - 29 years | 2018 | 12% | N/A | 18% | N/A | 7% |
| Age | 25 - 29 years | 2019 | 12% | N/A | 17% | N/A | 7% |
| Age | 25 - 29 years | 2020 | 17% | 17% | 17% | 18% | 11% |
| Age | 25 - 29 years | 2022 | 16% | 11% | 19% | 15% | 12% |
| Age | 30 - 34 years | 2018 | 17% | N/A | 23% | N/A | 7% |
| Age | 30 - 34 years | 2019 | 14% | N/A | 18% | N/A | 8% |
| Age | 30 - 34 years | 2020 | 19% | 18% | 18% | 16% | 9% |
| Age | 30 - 34 years | 2022 | 19% | 11% | 20% | 14% | 12% |
| Age | 35 - 39 years | 2018 | 21% | N/A | 21% | N/A | 11% |
| Age | 35 - 39 years | 2019 | 16% | N/A | 22% | N/A | 9% |
| Age | 35 - 39 years | 2020 | 25% | 18% | 20% | 18% | 9% |
| Age | 35 - 39 years | 2022 | 22% | 11% | 21% | 15% | 12% |
| Age | 40 - 44 years | 2018 | 20% | N/A | 23% | N/A | 9% |
| Age | 40 - 44 years | 2019 | 16% | N/A | 21% | N/A | 10% |
| Age | 40 - 44 years | 2020 | 22% | 17% | 19% | 16% | 8% |
| Age | 40 - 44 years | 2022 | 21% | 11% | 22% | 13% | 10% |
| Age | 45 - 49 years | 2018 | 16% | N/A | 22% | N/A | 8% |
| Age | 45 - 49 years | 2019 | 14% | N/A | 20% | N/A | 10% |
| Age | 45 - 49 years | 2020 | 17% | 16% | 19% | 14% | 8% |
| Age | 45 - 49 years | 2022 | 17% | 11% | 22% | 13% | 9% |
| Age | 50 - 54 years | 2018 | 16% | N/A | 23% | N/A | 8% |
| Age | 50 - 54 years | 2019 | 11% | N/A | 20% | N/A | 8% |
| Age | 50 - 54 years | 2020 | 12% | 13% | 18% | 13% | 8% |
| Age | 50 - 54 years | 2022 | 14% | 11% | 21% | 13% | 8% |
| Age | 55 - 59 years | 2018 | 12% | N/A | 20% | N/A | 7% |
| Age | 55 - 59 years | 2019 | 10% | N/A | 18% | N/A | 9% |
| Age | 55 - 59 years | 2020 | 9% | 14% | 17% | 12% | 8% |
| Age | 55 - 59 years | 2022 | 13% | 11% | 21% | 12% | 8% |
| Age | 60 years and over | 2018 | 9% | N/A | 15% | N/A | 5% |
| Age | 60 years and over | 2019 | 7% | N/A | 15% | N/A | 6% |
| Age | 60 years and over | 2020 | 6% | 11% | 12% | 10% | 5% |
| Age | 60 years and over | 2022 | 8% | 8% | 15% | 9% | 6% |
| First official language | English | 2018 | 15% | N/A | 21% | N/A | 8% |
| First official language | English | 2019 | 12% | N/A | 19% | N/A | 9% |
| First official language | English | 2020 | 15% | 15% | 17% | 13% | 8% |
| First official language | English | 2022 | 16% | 11% | 20% | 12% | 9% |
| First official language | French | 2018 | 15% | N/A | 19% | N/A | 8% |
| First official language | French | 2019 | 12% | N/A | 17% | N/A | 7% |
| First official language | French | 2020 | 14% | 15% | 18% | 15% | 8% |
| First official language | French | 2022 | 14% | 10% | 19% | 13% | 9% |
| Province/territory of work | Alberta | 2018 | 14% | N/A | 20% | N/A | 8% |
| Province/territory of work | Alberta | 2019 | 12% | N/A | 19% | N/A | 11% |
| Province/territory of work | Alberta | 2020 | 11% | 14% | 17% | 13% | 7% |
| Province/territory of work | Alberta | 2022 | 10% | 12% | 17% | 12% | 7% |
| Province/territory of work | British Columbia | 2018 | 13% | N/A | 22% | N/A | 5% |
| Province/territory of work | British Columbia | 2019 | 11% | N/A | 23% | N/A | 9% |
| Province/territory of work | British Columbia | 2020 | 10% | 12% | 18% | 13% | 7% |
| Province/territory of work | British Columbia | 2022 | 13% | 10% | 20% | 15% | 9% |
| Province/territory of work | Manitoba | 2018 | 16% | N/A | 21% | N/A | 11% |
| Province/territory of work | Manitoba | 2019 | 14% | N/A | 18% | N/A | 10% |
| Province/territory of work | Manitoba | 2020 | 11% | 16% | 20% | 14% | 6% |
| Province/territory of work | Manitoba | 2022 | 13% | 9% | 17% | 13% | 11% |
| Province/territory of work | National Capital Region | 2018 | 18% | N/A | 20% | N/A | 8% |
| Province/territory of work | National Capital Region | 2019 | 15% | N/A | 18% | N/A | 8% |
| Province/territory of work | National Capital Region | 2020 | 19% | 17% | 17% | 17% | 8% |
| Province/territory of work | National Capital Region | 2022 | 18% | 9% | 19% | 12% | 9% |
| Province/territory of work | New Brunswick | 2018 | 12% | N/A | 18% | N/A | 9% |
| Province/territory of work | New Brunswick | 2019 | 8% | N/A | 18% | N/A | 9% |
| Province/territory of work | New Brunswick | 2020 | 9% | 11% | 18% | 11% | 8% |
| Province/territory of work | New Brunswick | 2022 | 15% | 10% | 22% | 18% | 12% |
| Province/territory of work | Newfoundland and Labrador | 2018 | 3% | N/A | 19% | N/A | 5% |
| Province/territory of work | Newfoundland and Labrador | 2019 | 4% | N/A | 16% | N/A | 3% |
| Province/territory of work | Newfoundland and Labrador | 2020 | 4% | 8% | 11% | 8% | 1% |
| Province/territory of work | Newfoundland and Labrador | 2022 | 8% | 15% | 9% | 3% | 3% |
| Province/territory of work | Northwest Territories | 2018 | 10% | N/A | 19% | N/A | 10% |
| Province/territory of work | Northwest Territories | 2019 | 24% | N/A | 20% | N/A | 18% |
| Province/territory of work | Northwest Territories | 2020 | 14% | 17% | 12% | 5% | 0% |
| Province/territory of work | Northwest Territories | 2022 | 0% | 0% | 13% | 10% | 0% |
| Province/territory of work | Nova Scotia | 2018 | 15% | N/A | 25% | N/A | 8% |
| Province/territory of work | Nova Scotia | 2019 | 10% | N/A | 20% | N/A | 9% |
| Province/territory of work | Nova Scotia | 2020 | 10% | 13% | 15% | 9% | 7% |
| Province/territory of work | Nova Scotia | 2022 | 14% | 12% | 19% | 11% | 10% |
| Province/territory of work | Ontario (excluding National Capital) | 2018 | 13% | N/A | 18% | N/A | 9% |
| Province/territory of work | Ontario (excluding National Capital) | 2019 | 9% | N/A | 17% | N/A | 8% |
| Province/territory of work | Ontario (excluding National Capital) | 2020 | 13% | 13% | 17% | 12% | 9% |
| Province/territory of work | Ontario (excluding National Capital) | 2022 | 16% | 11% | 22% | 13% | 9% |
| Province/territory of work | Outside of Canada | 2018 | 40% | N/A | 40% | N/A | 0% |
| Province/territory of work | Outside of Canada | 2019 | 7% | N/A | 9% | N/A | 3% |
| Province/territory of work | Outside of Canada | 2020 | 37% | 2% | 23% | 16% | 4% |
| Province/territory of work | Outside of Canada | 2022 | 18% | 13% | 16% | 2% | 1% |
| Province/territory of work | Quebec (excluding National Capital) | 2018 | 14% | N/A | 22% | N/A | 8% |
| Province/territory of work | Quebec (excluding National Capital) | 2019 | 10% | N/A | 19% | N/A | 5% |
| Province/territory of work | Quebec (excluding National Capital) | 2020 | 13% | 16% | 21% | 13% | 9% |
| Province/territory of work | Quebec (excluding National Capital) | 2022 | 13% | 12% | 22% | 14% | 9% |
| Province/territory of work | Saskatchewan | 2018 | 8% | N/A | 13% | N/A | 12% |
| Province/territory of work | Saskatchewan | 2019 | 16% | N/A | 15% | N/A | 15% |
| Province/territory of work | Saskatchewan | 2020 | 8% | 6% | 14% | 20% | 10% |
| Province/territory of work | Saskatchewan | 2022 | 13% | 14% | 20% | 16% | 5% |
Data Source: Public Service Employee Survey (2020-2022)
Family support services
DND/CAF extends many support services to CAF member families. Services include the Canadian Forces Member and Family Assistance Program (CF MAP), which offers telephone and face-to-face counselling, the Canadian Forces Morale & Welfare Services (CFMWS), and other benefits for ill and injured.
Sentiment towards CAF family support services
These metrics are from the 2022 Your Say Matters (YSM) survey (note these questions are sent to CAF members only) and the 2018 Quality of Life Spousal survey, which is sent to spouses of CAF members.
CAF members
My family supports my career in the CAF:
| category | subcategory | Year | % Agree | % Other |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | Overall | 2022 | 86% | 15% |
| Gender | All Men | 2022 | 85% | 15% |
| Gender | All Women | 2022 | 88% | 12% |
| Gender | Primary Reserve Men | 2022 | 91% | 9% |
| Gender | Primary Reserve Women | 2022 | 90% | 10% |
| Gender | Regular Force Men | 2022 | 83% | 18% |
| Gender | Regular Force Women | 2022 | 87% | 13% |
| Component | Primary Reserve | 2022 | 91% | 9% |
| Component | Regular Force | 2022 | 83% | 17% |
| CAF Rank | Overall Junior Non-Commissioned Member | 2022 | 81% | 19% |
| CAF Rank | Overall Junior Officer | 2022 | 87% | 13% |
| CAF Rank | Overall Senior Non-Commissioned Member | 2022 | 89% | 11% |
| CAF Rank | Overall Senior Officer | 2022 | 92% | 8% |
| CAF Rank | Primary Reserve Junior Non-Commissioned Member | 2022 | 85% | 16% |
| CAF Rank | Primary Reserve Junior Officer | 2022 | 94% | 6% |
| CAF Rank | Primary Reserve Senior Non-Commissioned Member | 2022 | 93% | 7% |
| CAF Rank | Primary Reserve Senior Officer | 2022 | 98% | 2% |
| CAF Rank | Regular Force Junior Non-Commissioned Member | 2022 | 81% | 20% |
| CAF Rank | Regular Force Junior Officer | 2022 | 82% | 18% |
| CAF Rank | Regular Force Senior Non-Commissioned Member | 2022 | 87% | 13% |
| CAF Rank | Regular Force Senior Officer | 2022 | 89% | 11% |
The CAF provides a reasonable quality of life for members and their families:
| category | subcategory | Year | % Agree | % Other |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | Overall | 2022 | 34% | 66% |
| Gender | All Men | 2022 | 35% | 65% |
| Gender | All Women | 2022 | 35% | 65% |
| Gender | Primary Reserve Men | 2022 | 38% | 62% |
| Gender | Primary Reserve Women | 2022 | 35% | 65% |
| Gender | Regular Force Men | 2022 | 34% | 66% |
| Gender | Regular Force Women | 2022 | 35% | 66% |
| Component | Primary Reserve | 2022 | 37% | 63% |
| Component | Regular Force | 2022 | 33% | 67% |
| CAF Rank | Overall Junior Non-Commissioned Member | 2022 | 27% | 73% |
| CAF Rank | Overall Junior Officer | 2022 | 37% | 64% |
| CAF Rank | Overall Senior Non-Commissioned Member | 2022 | 38% | 63% |
| CAF Rank | Overall Senior Officer | 2022 | 54% | 46% |
| CAF Rank | Primary Reserve Junior Non-Commissioned Member | 2022 | 31% | 70% |
| CAF Rank | Primary Reserve Junior Officer | 2022 | 34% | 66% |
| CAF Rank | Primary Reserve Senior Non-Commissioned Member | 2022 | 29% | 71% |
| CAF Rank | Primary Reserve Senior Officer | 2022 | 69% | 31% |
| CAF Rank | Regular Force Junior Non-Commissioned Member | 2022 | 27% | 73% |
| CAF Rank | Regular Force Junior Officer | 2022 | 38% | 62% |
| CAF Rank | Regular Force Senior Non-Commissioned Member | 2022 | 42% | 58% |
| CAF Rank | Regular Force Senior Officer | 2022 | 44% | 56% |
I am satisfied with the overall support my family receives from the CAF:
| category | subcategory | Year | % Agree | % Other |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | Overall | 2022 | 57% | 43% |
| Gender | All Men | 2022 | 56% | 44% |
| Gender | All Women | 2022 | 63% | 37% |
| Gender | Primary Reserve Men | 2022 | 50% | 50% |
| Gender | Primary Reserve Women | 2022 | 65% | 35% |
| Gender | Regular Force Men | 2022 | 58% | 42% |
| Gender | Regular Force Women | 2022 | 62% | 38% |
| Component | Primary Reserve | 2022 | 52% | 49% |
| Component | Regular Force | 2022 | 59% | 42% |
| CAF Rank | Overall Junior Non-Commissioned Member | 2022 | 53% | 47% |
| CAF Rank | Overall Junior Officer | 2022 | 55% | 45% |
| CAF Rank | Overall Senior Non-Commissioned Member | 2022 | 61% | 39% |
| CAF Rank | Overall Senior Officer | 2022 | 63% | 37% |
| CAF Rank | Primary Reserve Junior Non-Commissioned Member | 2022 | 47% | 53% |
| CAF Rank | Primary Reserve Junior Officer | 2022 | 46% | 54% |
| CAF Rank | Primary Reserve Senior Non-Commissioned Member | 2022 | 49% | 51% |
| CAF Rank | Primary Reserve Senior Officer | 2022 | 64% | 36% |
| CAF Rank | Regular Force Junior Non-Commissioned Member | 2022 | 54% | 46% |
| CAF Rank | Regular Force Junior Officer | 2022 | 58% | 42% |
| CAF Rank | Regular Force Senior Non-Commissioned Member | 2022 | 65% | 35% |
| CAF Rank | Regular Force Senior Officer | 2022 | 63% | 37% |
Data Source: Your Say Matters: Defence Team Well-Being Survey (2022)
CAF members (spouses)
CAF families who feel they successfully meet the challenges of military life:
| Year | % Agree | % Other |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 88% | 12% |
Data Source: Quality of Life Spousal Survey (2018)
Data sources
For details on the methodology of data analysis, including descriptions of each data source, please visit the List of data sources page.
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