ICMIF member Beneva has published a new guide to help small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) better understand and respond to eco-anxiety in the workplace, highlighting the growing importance of supporting employee wellbeing as organisations navigate the impacts of climate change.

The guide builds on research conducted by the Université Laval Research Chair in Mental Health, Self-Management and Work, supported by Beneva, following the inaugural Québec Capitale Climat Summit in 2025. Based on responses from 2,020 employees and managers, the study provides one of the first large-scale analyses of eco-anxiety among SMEs.

The research reflects Beneva’s long-standing partnership with Université Laval, which began with the creation of the Research Chair in Mental Health, Self-Management and Work, as supported by Beneva, and has since expanded to support wider initiatives promoting healthy workplaces and organisational wellbeing. The latest study on eco-anxiety demonstrates how this collaboration continues to generate practical resources that help employers better understand emerging workplace challenges and support their people.

The findings show that while concern about environmental issues is high, the impact on workplace performance remains moderate, suggesting that organisations have an important opportunity to take proactive steps to support employee wellbeing before more significant challenges emerge. The research also notes that eco-anxiety has been added to the list of workplace mental health risk factors.

The study was also discussed during a recent Beneva business webinar on eco-anxiety in the workplace, where participants explored how greater awareness of the issue can help organisations foster dialogue, strengthen engagement and support more sustainable workplace practices.

Commenting on the findings, Christelle Lim-Severe, Sustainability Practice Leader at Beneva, said: “Eco-anxiety should not be seen solely as a risk, but as a sign of commitment and awareness among employees and managers. Thankfully, the feeling of helplessness is offset by a high level of hope, which acts as a protective shield, providing a valuable opportunity for development. Organisations that embrace and proactively respond to these changes will be able to strengthen their culture, mobilise their teams and accelerate their transition to more sustainable practices.”

Beyond highlighting the scale of the issue, the research positions eco-anxiety as an early warning indicator for mental health concerns and encourages SMEs to adopt practical, gradual and tailored approaches to prevention.

Beneva’s new guide provides organisations with further insights into the research findings, together with practical recommendations to help employers better support their people while strengthening resilience in the face of climate-related change.