ADHD Support at Work
What Employers Need to Know
ADHD Support at Work
What Employers Need to Know
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) affects more than 1.5 million Canadians. Yet fewer than one in ten people with ADHD feel the health-care system meets their needs.
In our Insights Webinar, experts explored ADHD in the workforce, the barriers many Canadians face in accessing care, and how employers can help employees thrive.
ADHD in the workplace: Key insights
Supporting employees with ADHD is becoming increasingly important as diagnosis rates rise and more adults seek care. When employers provide timely access to assessment and treatment, it helps improve employee wellbeing and workplace outcomes.
Key takeaways from the webinar include:
- Reducing productivity loss: Timely support can help recover lost workdays and improve productivity.
- Enhancing workplace performance: Better access to care supports retention and attendance.
- Removing barriers to care: Beyond ADHD, available to all Medavie Blue Cross members, helps improve access to assessments and treatment.
As ADHD continues to affect a growing portion of the workforce, employers can make a meaningful difference by creating supportive environments and connecting employees to care.
Why ADHD matters at work
ADHD can have a significant impact on job stability and performance, making it an important consideration for employers.
Research shows:
- Adults with ADHD are 61% more likely to be fired
- 33% more likely to be laid off
- 53% more likely to quit
- 20% less likely to be employed and earn an average of 16% less than their peers
Source: Centre for ADHD Awareness
Additional findings highlight the day-to-day challenges employees face:
- 87% say managing ADHD-related care can make it more difficult to stay focused or productive at work
- 24% of employees on long-term sick leave due to stress meet the criteria for ADHD
The message for employers is clear: supporting employees with ADHD improves both wellbeing and performance.
More information:
The cost of untreated ADHD at work
Organizations that fail to address ADHD-related challenges in the workplace may face increased risks and costs.
This can lead to:
- Occupational health and safety incidents
- Higher disability costs
- Greater risk management challenges
- Reduced attendance and productivity
- Lower workplace morale
The cost of untreated ADHD at work
Organizations that fail to address ADHD-related challenges in the workplace may face increased risks and costs.
This can lead to:
- Occupational health and safety incidents
- Higher disability costs
- Greater risk management challenges
- Reduced attendance and productivity
- Lower workplace morale
Why employees struggle to access ADHD care
Even with growing awareness of ADHD, many Canadians still face barriers to accessing care.
Recent findings show:
- 86% do not feel confident they can access timely care to manage their ADHD
- 83% say managing ongoing care causes mental or emotional strain
- 67% have felt dismissed or not taken seriously when seeking a diagnosis
- Only 9% say the current health-care system meets their needs
Source: Maple, Navigating Chronic Care in Canada
Employees often face additional barriers, including:
- Long wait times for assessments. These can sometimes be over a year in the private system and several years in the public system
- Location challenges that make it harder to access specialized care
- Difficulty getting treatment after diagnosis, especially for the 6.5 million Canadians without a family doctor
- Poor coordination between medical practitioners, counselling, and coaching services
- High costs that make diagnosis unaffordable for many people
These barriers can delay care, prolong symptoms, and affect workplace performance and overall wellbeing.
ADHD claims trends employers should know
Claims data shows growing demand for ADHD care.
Key trends in Medavie Blue Cross claims data include:
- ADHD drug costs have stabilized with the introduction of generic Vyvanse, although use continues to rise
- Claims among both males and females are increasing, with growth highest among females
- Females now account for 53% of claimants, with the steepest increases among those aged 20 to 45
- Growth is increasingly concentrated among adults rather than children
- Atlantic Canada now matches Quebec for the highest claimant rates
- Atlantic Canada has the highest female claimant rates, while Quebec has the highest male claimant rates
These trends highlight the need for benefits plans to evolve with changing ADHD usage and demographics.
How to support employees with ADHD
Employers can play an important role in helping employees and can take meaningful action through the following strategies:
- Clearly define work priorities and deadlines in writing
- Break projects into smaller steps with regular check-ins
- Offer flexible schedules and work arrangements where possible
- Reduce distractions
- Focus on strengths and create a safe environment
These small changes can make a big impact on productivity and wellbeing.
More information:
How to support employees with ADHD
Employers can play an important role in helping employees and can take meaningful action through the following strategies:
- Clearly define work priorities and deadlines in writing
- Break projects into smaller steps with regular check-ins
- Offer flexible schedules and work arrangements where possible
- Reduce distractions
- Focus on strengths and create a safe environment
These small changes can make a big impact on productivity and wellbeing.
More information:
ADHD assessment and treatment with Connected Care
Beyond ADHD is available to Medavie Blue Cross members through our Connected Care digital health platform. It provides accessible and affordable ADHD assessment and treatment for both children and adults.
Key features include:
- Access to a specialized team of clinicians focused on ADHD care
- Available across Canada, seven days a week
What the service provides:
- Clinicians with mental health and ADHD-specific training who can assess, diagnose, and treat ADHD
- A range of proven care options, including medication when clinically appropriate
- Preferred pricing and prioritized scheduling
Support employees with ADHD
Give your team faster access to assessment and treatment through Connected Care and Beyond ADHD. Simple support can improve focus, productivity, and wellbeing.
Posted by Medavie Blue Cross on June 24, 2026
Medavie Blue Cross is a premier all-in-one carrier that provides health, dental, travel, life and disability benefits and administers federal and provincial government-sponsored health programs. Together with Medavie Health Services, we are part of Medavie, a health solutions partner committed to improving the wellbeing of Canadians. We are in the...