Intensifying Emotional Strain: Discover the Reasons Behind 40% of Employees Who Recently Wept at Their Workplace
Struggling Workers in 2025: Stress Levels Skyrocket Amidst Tumultuous Times
America's workforce is gasping for breath under the weight of skyrocketing stress in the year 2025. This overwhelming sense of anxiety is fueled by global political chaos and unmet mental health needs, with almost 40% of employees breaking down in tears within the past month.
What's Triggering the Ballooning Stress Among Employees?
Unyielding pressure from the new administration has left federal employees with no choice but to head back to their desks – no matter how long they've been working remotely, despite research revealing that remote work benefits companies the most (shoutout to Modern Health for crunching those numbers). A recent study paints a dire picture, revealing job burnout at an all-time high of 66%, a situation experts warn may worsen with Return-to-Office (RTO) mandates that could intensify existing workplace stressors.
Economic instability and global turmoil are also stoking workplace mental health problems. Modern Health conducted a survey of 1,000 full-time U.S. workers to gauge the pulse of American workforce mental health. The findings are stark: current affairs are sending employees into emotional spirals, eclipsing crime and finance as the top negative mental health drivers.
Some key takeaways from the study include:
- 75% report grappling with low mood, largely due to politics and current events.
- 74% yearn for mental health resources catering specifically to political upheaval.
- Half of Americans admit life was easier during the pandemic than it is now, just two months into 2025.
- 96% confess to following recent news about global political or economic chaos, citing FAA changes, DOGE government budget cuts, and data breaches as the most detrimental to their mental health.
- 71% contend political tensions are making it harder to cultivate a positive work culture.
- 74% disclose political uncertainty can lead to burnout.
Troublingly, 61% of Gen Z employees are second-guessing their career paths due to the impact of the current global political climate on their mental health. 60% admit a lack of mental health support makes them less inclined to stick around their job. And a staggering 54% still haven't recovered emotionally from the pandemic.
Maureen Calabrese, chief people officer at Modern Health, spoke with me via email. She explains that today's People Teams face immense pressure on multiple fronts – not just from workers demanding more help, but from organizational realities that require doing more with less. Calabrese explains, "The challenge isn't just about burnout – it's about finding sustainable ways to support employees while navigating real business constraints. Organizations that get it right will create resilient, thriving workplaces – even in such uncertain times."
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Modern Health Offers Guidance for Combat Driving Workplace Stress
Modern Health suggests three strategies that employers can implement to tackle escalating stress levels:
- Shun crisis mode, embrace prevention: Treat workplace mental health support as an ongoing wellness initiative, not a mere response to crises. Dedicate resources to stress management and resilience building before employees reach breaking point. Encourage employees to prioritize well-being, and offer a range of support options – from therapy to coaching, digital tools, and peer support.
- Empower managers: Equip managers to identify and address burnout and stress early. Train them to recognize signs of stress and support employees effectively. Managers shouldn't be expected to be therapists, but they should know when and how to steer employees towards mental health resources. Lead by example – managers who prioritize their own mental well-being will inspire work-life balance among their teams.
- Craft a culture of trust, not just a list of benefits: Employees must trust their employer's commitment to mental health. Organizations must normalize conversations about mental health, lead by example, and ensure resources are easily accessible and stigma-free. Regularly monitor and respond to employee feedback, and address any issues promptly to foster an environment where mental health is truly valued.
In their quest to create workplaces that thrive, Calabrese urges employers to place mental health at the forefront and foster a culture that values trust, transparency, and authentic psychological safety. "Companies that invest in holistic, stigma-free mental health support," she argues, "will not only retain employees but create workplaces where they genuinely flourish."
- To address the escalating stress levels among employees in 2025, employers are advised by Modern Health to prioritize workplace mental health support as an ongoing wellness initiative, instead of solely reacting to crises.
- In order to combat the increasing stress levels among employees, it is crucial for managers to be equipped to identify and address burnout and stress early, and to know when and how to guide employees towards mental health resources.
- To mitigate the ballooning stress among employees in the year 2025, organizations are encouraged by Modern Health to normalize conversations about mental health, lead by example, and ensure resources are easily accessible and stigma-free, fostering an environment that truly values mental health and retains employees.
