Research reveals toxic workplaces are hazardous to mental health. A year-long study from an Australian university found that full-time workers who work for companies that do not prioritise mental health are three times more likely to suffer from depression. Researchers examined the negative effect of toxic workplaces on health. A toxic workplace has poor management, bullying, and a failure to consider mental health issues. The researchers say if employees are unhappy at work, mistreated or burnt out, their productivity will suffer and absenteeism will rise.
The lead researcher said mental health issues at work could be attributed to poor management. She said: "Evidence shows that companies who fail to reward or acknowledge their employees for hard work, impose unreasonable demands on workers, and do not give them autonomy are placing their staff at a much greater risk of depression." She added that bullying negatively affects both the victim and the perpetrator and can lead to burnout. Depression affects over 260 million people worldwide and causes many people to take their own lives.