Toxic Workplaces Are Bad for Mental and Physical Health, Surgeon General Says
Kanebridge News
Share Button

Toxic Workplaces Are Bad for Mental and Physical Health, Surgeon General Says

A mentally healthy workplace includes growth opportunities, work-life balance and community, according to America’s doctor

By LINDSAY ELLIS
Fri, Oct 21, 2022 8:51amGrey Clock 4 min

The U.S. surgeon general is telling Americans for the first time that disrespectful or cutthroat workplaces could be hazardous to their health.

Surgeon General Vivek Murthy’s office—which is more often associated with warnings about nicotine, Zika and the Covid-19 pandemic—issued a guidance Thursday outlining how long hours, limited autonomy and low wages can affect workers’ health and organisational performance. Chronic stress disrupts sleep, increases vulnerability to infection and has been linked to conditions ranging from heart disease to depression, the document said, citing research from the American Psychological Association and a Stanford University psychologist.

“Toxic workplaces are harmful to workers—to their mental health, and it turns out, to their physical health as well,” Dr. Murthy said.

The surgeon general’s guidance on the role of the workplace in well-being comes as many workers report work stress and difficulty concentrating. Meanwhile, companies have stepped up spending on mental-health and well-being benefits in recent years.

Recommendations in the surgeon general’s release include asking workplace leaders to listen to workers about their needs, increasing pay and limiting communications outside of work hours. A mentally healthy workplace, according to the framework, includes growth opportunities, work-life balance, community, protection from harm and employee influence on workplace decisions.

“People are asking themselves what they want out of work,” Dr. Murthy said. “They’re also asking themselves what they’re willing to sacrifice for work, and the fundamental questions are reshaping people’s relationships with the workplace.”

The statement comes as several million people, many of whom are women, lacking a college degree and working in low-paying fields, are expected to remain out of the labor force indefinitely, researchers say. About 80% of the roughly 11,300 workers surveyed between 2020 and 2021 by Mental Health America said that work stress affects relationships with friends, family and co-workers. While 46% of respondents said in 2018 that they had trouble concentrating at work, 65% did in 2020 and 71% did in 2021. The survey cited the pandemic as one potential contributor to this shift.

Alexia Rowe, 25 years old, works at a box office in Cambridge, Mass. Earlier this year, when a show was rescheduled, she called ticket holders to share the news. A patron began screaming at her, Ms. Rowe said. The next morning, she felt a wave of anxiety.

A manager allowed her to take a break from making calls, she said.

“If I leave this position,” she said, “I’m not going to find a manager that’s like her.”

Of more than 2,000 workers surveyed by the American Psychological Association in April and May, 18% described their workplace as somewhat or very toxic, and 30% said they had experienced harassment, verbal abuse or physical violence at work, including from customers.

Companies have been channeling more resources toward employee mental health. The 372-employee software company Kajabi asks employees regularly whether they have energy for family time after work or if they feel their workload is in line with their level and skill set. Samantha Matthews, vice president of people operations, said between the last quarter of 2021 and the second quarter of this year, responses trended negative.

Kajabi, which is based in Irvine, Calif., hired about a dozen people to teams that were understaffed, Ms. Matthews said. The company also spent about $17,000 in one quarter on wellness benefits, including an expanded employee-assistance program offering three free therapy sessions and seven weeks of courses from an outside vendor related to mental wellness and burnout.

Managers also encourage employees to take paid time off after big projects launch, she said.

“People are adults,” she said. “They take the time that they need, and they’re here when they don’t need it.”

Forty percent of 563 companies with at least 100 employees and $1 million in annual revenue surveyed by the benefits-consulting firm NFP in February and March spent between $201 and $600 per employee on well-being, a category including programs such as mindfulness workshops and office fitness challenges, in 2021.

The surgeon general recommended that employers provide access to mental-health care as part of benefits packages, but the guidance goes beyond specific services and links broader aspects of work, such as pay and autonomy, to well being.

“When I talk to employers, they all acknowledge that mental health and well-being are top concerns of theirs,” said Ron Goetzel, director of the Institute for Health and Productivity Studies at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. “This has come up into the C-suite, more so than ever before.”

Dr. Goetzel said employers are motivated to pay attention to these issues if they can’t fill jobs, adding that the costs of prevention are small compared with treatment.

Paige Kerr, an office manager in Bensenville, Ill., juggled a heavy workload earlier this year. Her company was getting acquired while she was working through a custody dispute for her young son, and she called in sick several times. Feeling disengaged was unusual for Ms. Kerr, 27, who said she rarely took time off.

“I was putting more effort into not doing the work, versus just doing it,” she said.

In September, her manager told her he felt her performance had diminished, and that her negativity affected colleagues. He urged her to take a week of paid time off. Ms. Kerr turned off her Slack notifications and, after a few days, stopped checking email.

She registered her son for daycare and worked through court paperwork—things that, after a long day of work, had been last on her list.

After the vacation, she said, it no longer felt “like the world’s caving in.” She said she has felt more optimistic and engaged at the office.



MOST POPULAR

As tariffs bite, Sydney’s MAISON de SABRÉ is pushing deeper into the US, holding firm on pricing and proving that resilience in luxury means more than survival.

Early indications from several big regional real-estate boards suggest March was overall another down month.

Related Stories
Lifestyle
Australian Luxury Brand MAISON de SABRÉ Expands in US Despite Trade Pressures
By Jeni O'Dowd 22/04/2025
Lifestyle
The Art of Living Beautifully
By Ozge Fettahlioglu 15/04/2025
Lifestyle
Why Swimwear Star Rebecca Klodinsky Walked Away From a Celebrity-Favourite Brand
By Jeni O'Dowd 11/04/2025
Australian Luxury Brand MAISON de SABRÉ Expands in US Despite Trade Pressures

As tariffs bite, Sydney’s MAISON de SABRÉ is pushing deeper into the US, holding firm on pricing and proving that resilience in luxury means more than survival.

By Jeni O'Dowd
Tue, Apr 22, 2025 2 min

As global trade tensions intensify and tariffs reshape the retail landscape, one Australian brand is choosing to scale rather than retreat.

Sydney-founded luxury label MAISON de SABRÉ is doubling down on the US market, pushing ahead with a bold expansion strategy despite rising cost pressures and broader global uncertainty.

While many brands are increasing prices or pausing shipments, MAISON de SABRÉ is holding its price point for customers and continuing to invest in its US operations.

The move reflects a deeper strategic play: a vertically integrated, zero-waste supply chain that allows the brand to deliver on cost, speed, and quality — even under pressure.

It’s this model, paired with consistent product innovation and sharp design, that has helped MAISON de SABRÉ build lasting equity in international markets.

At its pop-up in Bloomingdale’s, MAISON de SABRÉ is currently the top-selling brand in its category — a position it also holds in the top two across both Bloomingdale’s and Nordstrom’s online platforms.

Co-founder and CEO Omar Sabré says this is no accident.

“This is going to be a very difficult period for a lot of smaller brands — especially those relying on offshore mass production or single growth markets,” says Sabré.

“We’ve built a uniquely global model that can absorb shocks — from pricing pressure to supply chain disruption — while protecting customers and safeguarding long-term growth.”

Founded on a mission to deliver modern, accessible luxury, the brand hand-finishes its signature full-grain cowhide goods in Sydney, tested against a 13-point quality control protocol.

Sustainability is embedded, not just as a value but as a competitive advantage. MAISON de SABRÉ sources exclusively from LWG Gold-Rated tanneries, and its transition to DriTan™ leather — the world’s most sustainable tanning method — saves 25 million litres of water annually and reduces chemical use by 33%.

With 85% material utilisation, zero-waste production, and carbon offsetting on track by 2026, MAISON de SABRÉ is setting a new standard for sustainable craftsmanship at scale.

“We’ve always believed that staying close to the customer — operationally and emotionally — is what separates sustainable brands from short-term players,” says Sabré.

“This isn’t just about product. It’s about building systems that hold up in any climate.”

While competitors pivot or pause, MAISON de SABRÉ is executing a long-term strategy built on control, creativity, and disciplined growth. In a disrupted global retail market, the brand isn’t just weathering the storm — it’s shaping the new definition of modern luxury.

MOST POPULAR

The late rock star and his wife, model Iman, visited the house after seeing a news story about its unusual design by local architects Shim-Sutcliffe.

As tariffs bite, Sydney’s MAISON de SABRÉ is pushing deeper into the US, holding firm on pricing and proving that resilience in luxury means more than survival.

Related Stories
rich family
Money
Family Is What Threatens a Family’s Fortune. Tales From Those in the Know.
By ABBY SCHULTZ 04/03/2025
Money
Trump Administration Could Bring an Economic ‘Detox.’ What It Means for Stocks.
By TERESA RIVAS 11/03/2025
Lifestyle
The Art of Living Beautifully
By Ozge Fettahlioglu 15/04/2025
0
    Your Cart
    Your cart is emptyReturn to Shop