Employees are navigating workplaces where expressing emotions can feel risky, leaving many to hide their struggles and suffer in silence. Zety UK, a leading career and resume service, has released findings from its Workplace Emotional Safety Report, revealing the stressors, emotional pressures, and barriers to psychological safety affecting workers.
The survey of over 1,000 U.S. employees highlights workplace emotional trends and challenges relevant to organizations worldwide. Research shows just 32% rate the overall psychological safety of their workplace as high, while 67% have felt the need to “mask” their emotions to appear professional – a phenomenon Zety calls “corporate masking.” If their mental health were suffering, 1 in 4 wouldn’t feel safe telling their manager and would stay silent.
Additional Key Findings
- 44% feel judged when they express stress or negative emotion at work.
- Burnout or chronic stress (43%) and heavy workloads or deadlines (42%) are the leading causes of negative emotions at work.
- 36% have reported a different reason for taking a mental health day; 7% don’t feel comfortable taking time off for mental health at all.
- One-third have been told directly to “toughen up,” “calm down,” or “leave your feelings at the door.”
The State of Psychological Safety
The data shows hesitation around whether employees can truly be themselves at work without fear of consequences:
- 67% have felt the need to mask or hide their emotions to appear professional.
- 1 in 3 employees feel uncomfortable expressing negative emotions at work.
- Just 32% rate their workplace’s psychological safety as high, while 58% rate it moderate and 10% rate it low.
Emotional Strain and Burnout
The toll of stress on employees is clear:
- 61% have felt overwhelmed to the point of tears in the past year.
- 30% have cried in front of a coworker or manager due to work stress.
- 1 in 4 feel emotionally drained a few times per week, and 1 in 10 say they feel this way every day.
Other main causes of negative emotions at work include:
- Conflict with manager or colleagues (29%)
- Lack of support or recognition (28%)
- Personal issues spilling into work (26%)
- Unclear communication or expectations (23%)
- Toxic team or leadership culture (23%)
- Job insecurity or fear of layoffs (14%)
- Sudden changes in responsibilities (14%)
- Micromanagement or lack of autonomy (10%)
- Ethical or values conflict (8%)
- Discrimination or harassment (7%)
Barriers to Emotional Expression
Employees often hold back their feelings when past attempts have been invalidated or minimized:
- 44% feel judged when they express stress or emotion at work.
- 1 in 3 have been told to “toughen up,” “calm down,” or “leave your feelings at the door.”
- 21% say their colleagues are dismissive when they show negative emotion, while 14% say colleagues are completely unaware.
Support Systems and Mental Health
When it comes to seeking help, most employees lean on personal connections rather than workplace leaders or professionals:
- A trusted colleague or peer (36%)
- Friends or family outside of work (36%)
- My direct manager (16%)
- I don’t feel safe talking to anyone (6%)
- HR or a designated workplace counselor (3%)
- Outside therapist or professional (3%)
Other insights:
- If their mental health were suffering, 1 in 4 wouldn’t feel safe telling their manager.
- 36% have taken a mental health day but reported a different reason, and 7% don’t feel comfortable taking time off at all.
“What stands out is how often employees are pushed to silence or shame when emotions surface at work,” said Jasmine Escalera, career expert at Zety. “Crying, stress, and burnout are human, but too many workplaces still treat them as weaknesses. Until psychological safety is prioritised, employees will continue to mask their emotions rather than seek real support.”
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