Why Your Foreign Workers' Mental Health Can Make (or Break) Your Business Success
It’s easy to forget that foreign workers in your company are dealing with more than just a new job – many are facing challenges that could be impacting your business in unseen ways.
While Canada’s Temporary Foreign Worker Program has seen explosive growth over the past few years (over 200,000 new positions approved in just three years), a hidden crisis may be brewing. More than 80% of foreign workers report dealing with mental health challenges. Even worse, 20% feel that they can’t ask for help.
That's not just a human resource issue—it puts your business at risk. When your skilled workers are battling stress, isolation, and cultural adjustment alone, it shows up in their workplace.
Safety incidents increase. Productivity drops. And that investment you made in recruiting and training? It walks out the door when workers can't cope anymore.
But there’s good news: Smart employers are turning this challenge into an opportunity. They're discovering that supporting their workers' mental health isn't just about doing the right thing -- it's about protecting their bottom line and building a stronger, more resilient workforce.
The Hidden Costs of Ignoring Your Workers' Mental Health
When you bring in foreign workers, you're not just getting extra hands for your daily operation. You’re investing in people – individuals who have very real lives and very real challenges as they navigate those lives.
When those challenges aren’t identified and treated with care and compassion, you risk more than just productivity loss.
The Pressure Points You Need to Know About
Most employers don't realise just how much talent they have working in their entry-level positions.
That promising new hire operating your forklift might have been running an engineering firm back home. Your latest farm worker? They could be a doctor with years of experience.
Your skilled workers are likely facing a perfect storm of stress that is raging just under the surface of a normal day.
Highly-skilled workers are working entry-level jobs at entry-level pay.
Doctors who were used to prestigious work they were passionate about may have lost their passion while working in manual labour roles.
IT specialists could find themselves taking any work they can get to make ends meet.
The latest figures estimate that 44% of foreign workers in Canada do not have a role matching their expertise or education. That's not just a statistic -- it's a daily psychological burden that affects everything from job satisfaction to workplace safety.
The Daily Battles Your Workers Face
The stress doesn't stop at job titles. Your workers are navigating challenges most of us never have to think about, and they're doing it far from their support systems and familiar surroundings.
Think about what your foreign workers deal with daily – from working in unfamiliar environments with new safety risks to trying to understand working instructions in a second language. They also miss family members back home and worry about maintaining their legal working status.
These very real struggles follow your workers into every shift, affecting their concentration, safety, and ability to perform at their best.
What This Really Means for Your Business
When mental health struggles go unaddressed, they don't stay hidden. They surface in ways that directly impact your operation and your profits:
More accidents and safety incidents
Higher turnover (and more recruitment costs)
Reduced productivity across teams
Workers who leave before you see a return on your training investment
The good news? These aren't inevitable costs of hiring foreign workers. They're preventable problems that smart employers are already solving through targeted mental health support.
Practical Steps to Protect Your Workers' Mental Health
Supporting your workers' mental health doesn't have to be complicated. In fact, with the right resources and a partner who can help you find the right coverage, you can create a healthcare commitment that drives recruitment and boosts company culture.
Start with Insurance That Actually Works
Your workers need coverage that removes the barriers to getting help. That means having an insurance partner who knows the struggles that foreign workers face – and has the resources to meet those needs.
Through FWCHP, you can provide:
Mental health counselling in their native language
24/7 support hotlines they can actually use
Coverage that starts on day one with no waiting periods
Access to medication when they need it
Support for both in-person and virtual care
Remember, when you make it easy for workers to get help early, you prevent small issues from becoming costly crises.
Beyond Insurance: Support That Makes a Difference
The right insurance coverage is only the foundation. Real impact comes from creating an environment where workers feel supported every day.
Train supervisors to spot early warning signs
Set up regular conversations that build trust
Create quiet spaces for breaks and prayer
Organise cultural celebrations that fight isolation
Make schedules flexible enough for medical appointments
Investing in Mental Health Support Can Strengthen Your Workforce
Mental health support isn't just another workplace program in Canada. It's becoming the difference between businesses that thrive and those that struggle to keep their foreign workers.
Think about it: Your workers travelled thousands of miles to help build your business. Protecting their mental health isn't just about doing the right thing – it's about protecting your investment and building a stronger team.
Take the time now to review your current coverage for your employees – and ask them what they need in terms of support. Then take the next step to increase your protection for your people:
Contact FWCHP about comprehensive health coverage
Create clear steps for workers to access support
Set up multilingual resources about available services
The employers who support mental health will have the edge in attracting and keeping valuable workers. Don't wait for turnover, accidents, or lost productivity to show you there's a problem.
Ready to protect your workers and your business? Contact FWCHP today to learn how we can help you build mental health support that works.
Looking to provide your foreign workers with the necessary healthcare coverage?
Click through the video below to learn about the FWCHP.
