80% of workers feel they work in a toxic environment (compared to 67% in 2024)
93% of workers don’t think their employer is doing enough to address their mental wellness at work (compared to 78% in 2024)
71% of workers say their mental health at work is poor (40%) or fair (31%)
57% of workers would rather quit, and 42% would rather get laid off from their job than work in a toxic workplace
KEY takeaways
71% of workers say their mental health at work is poor (40%) or fair (31%), while only 29% describe it as good (20%) or great (9%)
There are a few contributing factors to workers’ negative mental health:
(59%) Say that a toxic work culture is to blame
(54%) Blame a bad manager
(47%) Credit a lack of growth opportunities
(47%) Blame an increased workload
(33%) Say that staffing shortages are at fault
(31%) Blame moves by the current administration
(20%) Say the current turbulence in the government work sector is a factor
(16%) Blame the return to an in-office work model
For the workers who reported poor or fair mental health at work, 51% say that it could be improved if their employer fired employees who foster a toxic workplace
For workers who reported that their employer is doing enough to address their mental health at work, they say the following are moves from their employer that make them feel supported:
(50%) Allowing time away from the office for doctors, therapy, and other health-related appointments
(29%) Offering significant PTO
(23%) Having specific policies in place to support worker mental health
Mental wellness
at work
Worker Priorities
Workers prioritize their well-being at work over the following:
(63%) Having an impressive, brag-worthy job
(43%) A promotion
(33%) A raise in salary
Rather than working in a toxic workplace, workers would prefer:
(57%) Quitting their job
(42%) Being laid off
(29%) Taking a salary cut
(24%) Working with an ex
(23%) Working weekends
(14%) Giving up vacation days for a year
Monster survey conducted among
workers, April 2025.
Methodology
Resources