Do you feel the weight of burnout? Or do you feel the weight of layoffs or the pressure of finding a new job? Or do you struggle to talk about mental health issues at your workplace? Don’t worry, you are not alone !
We went through three latest surveys and chalked out all the issues that a common American might face at his/her workplace.
Job Insecurity is Causing Stress
Job insecurity significantly affects the stress levels of U.S. workers, with a majority (54%) reporting this impact. This highlights a BIG concern within the workforce regarding employment stability.
A considerable number of workers, over one-third (39%), are worried about losing their jobs in the next 12 months because of changes in government policies. This concern is particularly high (70%) for those whose organizations have been drastically impacted, compared to 39% for those less affected.
Many employed adults, specifically two-thirds (65%), feel their company has already been influenced by recent government policy shifts. Moreover, 53% of government employees anticipate future organizational changes due to these same policies.
Job Mobility Concerns
Regarding job market mobility, a significant portion of workers (51%) believe that finding a new job would be a time-consuming process. Additionally, almost half (44%) expect they would need to change their field if they were to look for new employment opportunities.
Economic downturns are also a growing source of worry. Currently, 44% of workers are concerned about potential layoffs or job elimination due to such conditions, a notable increase from 36% reported in 2024.
Source – American Psychological Association
HR Perceptions, Inflation and Rewards
Only 42% of U.S. workers agreed that their employers were excelling in fostering a positive employee experience. U.S. workers consistently identify four key workplace features as essential for a positive employee experience: being part of a cohesive team, finding purpose, receiving fair treatment, and being recognized.
However, in 2024, 34% of U.S. workers reported a lack of recognition for their contributions. Additionally, 25% cited insufficient collaboration within their teams, and 15% noted unfair performance evaluations.
Poor Leadership
Despite the importance of leadership and manager development, only 42% of U.S. workers felt their organizations were effective or very effective in this area in 2024. A significant 35% of U.S. workers reported experiencing poor or ineffective management during the year.
Furthermore, 34% of U.S. workers cited ineffective or poor senior leadership within their organizations. These figures underscore areas needing improvement from the perspective of the U.S. workforce.
Source – SHRM Document
Employee Relations
In labor and employee relations, 48% of U.S. workers believed their organizations were effective or very effective. While this was lower than HR executives and professionals, all three groups identified it as the strongest HR practice area overall. For HR function strategy and management, only 41% of U.S. workers rated it as effective or very effective. This lower perception from workers is expected, given their likely limited insight into HR’s internal operations.
However, U.S. workers are sending a clear message about the importance of financial security, with total rewards (42%) being their top priority for 2025. This is unsurprising given financial pressures faced by many.
Source – SHRM
Inflation and Cost
In 2024, 43% of U.S. workers reported that inflation had an extreme or significant impact on their personal financial situation. Also, 46% expressed at least moderate concern about how inflation affects the value of their compensation.
About 1 in 4 U.S. workers did not receive a cost-of-living adjustment in 2024, while nearly all (98%) said they need one in 2025. This creates a significant challenge for HR in a constrained economic environment.
Source – SHRM Surveys
NAMI polls & Mental Health
A NAMI-Ipsos poll, conducted in January 2025, focused on full-time workers employed at companies with at least 100 employees. The study aimed to understand employee awareness, workplace cultures, and access to mental health care. The poll is based on a nationally representative probability sample of 2,376 general population adults, age 18 or older. This sample also included 104 executives.
The poll reveals a duality: many respondents are supportive of their coworkers’ mental health concerns, yet stigma remains a significant barrier for their own needs. 77% of respondents would feel comfortable if a coworker discussed mental health with them, and nearly three in four feel comfortable supporting a coworker in a mental health crisis.
Source – Nami Polls
Americans Hesitant to Talk About Mental Health at Workplace
However, a notable personal hesitancy persists. 42% of employees worry their career would be negatively impacted if they talked about mental health at work. Additionally, nearly half of employees say they worry about being judged if they share mental health struggles with colleagues.
This perceived stigma did not decline from 2024. Employees frequently report “burnout,” “stress,” and “overwhelm,” while far fewer rate their “mental health” as poor, suggesting discomfort in openly identifying as struggling.
Some People Just Quit
One in four employees have considered quitting their jobs due to mental health concerns, and 7% actually did quit because of related challenges. Despite these struggles, only 13% say they told their manager or supervisor their mental health was suffering in the past year due to work demands.
Many workers need more information about mental health care benefits. Approximately a quarter of respondents do not know whether their employer offers mental health care benefits, an employee assistance program, flexible work arrangements, or sick days for mental health.
Meanwhile, more than 8 out of 10 respondents report these benefits are or would be important for creating a positive workplace culture. While over half of workplaces offer mental health and well-being trainings, only 11% require employees to complete them.
Source – Nami Report
While three in four American workers feel it is appropriate to discuss mental health at work, two in five worry about being judged if they share their own experiences. This indicates a persistent perceived stigma.
Workers Crave Information on Mental Health
Many workers crave information on mental health resources. While 77% of respondents are satisfied with their overall health care insurance benefits, satisfaction drops to 68% for mental health care benefits specifically.
Gen-Z Unsatisfied with Workplace Benefits
Entry-level and younger employees (under age 30) are less satisfied with workplace benefits than their senior counterparts. Only half the workforce knows how to access mental health care through their employer-sponsored health insurance.
Source – Nami Report
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