The human-machine compact
The Canadian workforce is being reshaped by automation and expectation. One in three workers now use generative AI tools weekly, and 42% of employees cite wellbeing as a top job criterion (Mercer 2025).
| Indicator | 2020 | 2025 | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Workers using AI tools weekly | 5 % | 33 % | Mercer 2025 |
| Average hybrid work adoption | 9 % | 47 % | StatsCan |
| Mental-health leave claims (per 1,000 employees) | 14 | 22 | Sun Life 2025 |
The new social contract
- Employees expect technology to amplify capability, not monitor it.
- Hybrid flexibility is now core to talent attraction.
- Wellbeing programs and data ethics are executive responsibilities.
What leaders can do
- Integrate AI literacy and wellbeing into training budgets.
- Design “intentional hybrid” schedules. In-office time for creativity, remote for focus.
- Use predictive analytics to monitor burnout risk.
- Tie leadership incentives to employee engagement metrics.
Arcus Insight: The future workforce isn’t human or machine — it’s hybrid. The firms that optimize both will redefine productivity and purpose.