Almost half of CBC's 10,000 employees suffer from "high levels" of psychological distress related to their working conditions, according to a 2005 "wellness" survey of 4,630 staff obtained through the Access to Information Act.

The survey, which cost an estimated $100,000, asked employees questions related to psychological health, harassment, working conditions and job satisfaction.

The results describe a "troubled" working environment where 44% of staff displayed symptoms of high-level psychological distress. Nine out of 10 afflicted workers said it was related to their work. Those classified as distressed also took twice as many sick days.

When it came to harassment, 12% of staff said they had endured abusive comments, rude gestures and even death threats from their fellow employees and supervisors.

A short list of comments made by respondents reveal that one of the most common harassment complaints was: "My boss told my co-workers that he couldn't stand me and that he hated me."

The survey was carried out after staff and management noticed a marked increase in stress levels and a rise in the number of sick days taken.

"It described a troubled atmosphere," Dan Oldfiele, a union spokesman for CBC staff, said of the findings. "It was an extremely stressful environment. (It showed) that our health costs and absenteeism were increasing (and that) it was not an accident."

The stress and harassment has led to poor job satisfaction. A third of CBC staff said they had a high intention of quitting their jobs. The remaining two-thirds were satisfied.

Four out of five people questioned said working conditions were physically uncomfortable, which has resulted in a wide range of physical ailments, including back pain, neck pain and sleeping disorders.

The report concluded by saying staff, regardless of their department, are at risk of poor recognition for their work, poor relations with supervisors, work overload, conflicts over who does what job, career instability and substandard communication within the company.

"The study identified some key areas of concern and obviously we take them very seriously," said CBC spokeswoman Katherine Heath-Eves.

CBC has now made it mandatory for staff to attend a half-day "respect seminar" designed to curb harassment. About 75% of staff members have completed the seminar.

Heath-Eves also says the CBC hired full-time staff dedicated to making the workplace comfortable and reducing physical ailments. The CBC now also provides stress counselling for employees.

The corporation has yet to conduct an additional survey to find out if conditions have improved.