By Dorothy Her-son
In today’s fast-paced, high-pressure work environment, stress has become almost a badge of honour. We wear our exhaustion like a trophy, boasting about the late nights and tight deadlines, all in the name of career success.
But beneath the surface of these productivity-driven cultures lies a dangerous reality: toxic corporate environments are taking a serious toll on employee well-being, contributing to a burnout epidemic that’s only getting worse.
The Burnout Epidemic
Burnout is not just a buzzword. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), it’s a “syndrome” that results from chronic workplace stress that hasn’t been successfully managed. Symptoms can include exhaustion, cynicism, and feelings of ineffectiveness. It’s a serious condition that not only affects an individual’s mental and physical health but also has significant impacts on productivity and overall company performance.
A 2023 survey by Gallup found that nearly 76% of U.S. employees experience workplace burnout at least sometimes, with 28% reporting they feel burned out “very often or always.” The same report found that 90% of UK workers are not engaged or enthusiastic about their work, highlighting a widespread issue of workplace dissatisfaction. Additionally, 38% of UK employees reported experiencing significant stress “a lot of the day”, contributing to rising burnout levels. Research from Deloitte estimates that poor mental health costs UK employers up to £56 billion annually, with stress-related absenteeism and presenteeism (working while unwell) significantly impacting productivity. With burnout on the rise, businesses must address workplace stress before it leads to long-term damage to both employees and company performance.
What makes burnout particularly dangerous is that it doesn’t just disrupt work-life balance – it infiltrates every aspect of a person’s life. Chronic stress from work can erode personal relationships, leading to increased conflict, emotional withdrawal, and feelings of isolation. It can also damage self-worth, as individuals begin to equate their productivity with their value, leaving them feeling constantly inadequate. Many people experiencing burnout find themselves trapped in a relentless cycle of exhaustion, self-blame, and guilt, unable to switch off even after leaving the office. Sleep disturbances, anxiety, and a persistent sense of overwhelm often follow, making recovery even more difficult without intervention.
Who is Most at Risk?
Burnout doesn’t affect everyone equally. Certain personality types and workplace structures make some employees more vulnerable than others.
- Insecure Overachievers: A term often associated with high-pressure industries like law, finance, and consulting, insecure overachievers are individuals who derive their self-worth from external validation. They work relentlessly to meet impossibly high expectations, making them particularly susceptible to burnout.
- Perfectionists: Employees who struggle with perfectionism often push themselves beyond reasonable limits, fearing failure or criticism. Their inability to accept “good enough” can lead to chronic stress and exhaustion.
- People-Pleasers: Those who find it difficult to say no, take on too many tasks, and prioritise the needs of others over their well-being are at high risk of emotional exhaustion.
- Frontline Workers and Caregivers: Studies show that healthcare workers, teachers, and social workers are among the most burned-out professionals, largely due to emotional labour, long hours, and systemic underfunding.
The Role of Toxic Corporate Culture
So, what’s driving this epidemic? Toxic corporate culture is one of the primary culprits. The modern corporate world often celebrates hustle culture, where employees are expected to be “always on,” respond to emails at all hours, and prioritise work over personal well-being. This competitive culture of overwork and high expectations without adequate support or recognition can lead to emotional exhaustion and a sense of burnout.
Factors such as poor leadership, unrealistic performance expectations, lack of work-life balance, and an unhealthy focus on competition instead of collaboration contribute to this toxic environment. Leaders who fail to recognise the importance of mental health or actively promote a culture of silence around stress only perpetuate the cycle of burnout.
In many corporate settings, employees are often reluctant to speak up about their stress levels or mental health concerns due to the fear of being judged, stigmatised, or even overlooked for promotions. This “keep quiet and push through” mentality reinforces the toxic cycle, making it harder for individuals to seek help and for organisations to foster a supportive and empathetic workplace.
What Can We Do?
The good news is that burnout is preventable and treatable. As individuals, there are steps we can take to protect our mental and emotional well-being, and as companies, there are practices that can be put in place to promote a healthier and more sustainable work environment.
Lead with Empathy
Leaders play a crucial role in shaping corporate culture. They should lead by example by setting boundaries, prioritising self-care, and encouraging employees to do the same. Cultivating a culture of empathy, where people feel comfortable sharing their struggles without fear of judgment, is essential. This includes recognising the importance of mental health days, offering flexible working hours, and addressing burnout in conversations about productivity and performance.
Set realistic expectations
Companies must reassess their expectations and stop glorifying overwork. It’s time to move away from unrealistic deadlines and start fostering a more sustainable pace of work. Being mindful of employees’ mental health means setting achievable goals, offering adequate resources, and respecting their time away from work. Well-rested, mentally healthy employees are far more productive than overworked, stressed individuals.
Encourage Work-Life Balance
Work-life balance shouldn’t be an exception, it should be the norm. Employers can support their staff by offering flexible working arrangements, promoting breaks throughout the day, and encouraging time off to recharge. This also means embracing hybrid working models or remote work options to reduce commuting stress and create more autonomy over one’s schedule.
Provide Mental Health Resources
Organisations should prioritise mental health by offering resources such as employee assistance programs (EAPs), mental health training, and access to counselling. Providing clear paths to support helps to break down the stigma surrounding mental health and shows employees that the company cares about their well-being.
Create a Supportive Community
Building a sense of community at work can help reduce stress and burnout. Teams that communicate openly and support one another are more resilient in the face of challenges. Encouraging collaboration, building peer support networks, and creating opportunities for social connections can all help employees feel less isolated and more connected to their work and colleagues.
Toxic corporate culture is not only damaging individual employees, but it’s also taking a toll on businesses. Companies that fail to recognise the importance of well-being and mental health risk losing their most valuable asset: their people. By addressing the root causes of stress and burnout and fostering healthier, more empathetic environments, organisations can prevent burnout and build stronger, more sustainable work cultures.
For employees, the key is recognising the signs of burnout early, setting boundaries, and seeking support when needed. For businesses, the responsibility lies in creating an environment where people feel valued, supported, and empowered to prioritise their health.
In the end, we all need to remember that productivity isn’t just about output – it’s about sustaining our most important resource: ourselves.
About the author
Dorothy Herson is a mental health activist and the author of The Rag Doll Contract – a literary novel that draws on her own experience of a psychiatric breakdown while working at an elite London law firm.
