I was in a meeting once when someone mentioned burnout. The room went quiet. You could almost hear people holding their breath. Then, someone broke the silence with, “Let’s focus on the positives!”
It was meant to cheer everyone up. But the way the room shifted… you could tell it didn’t land well. The silence that followed wasn’t relief. It was that awkward kind that says, “I guess this isn’t something we talk about here.”
I’ve seen it in other places too. A colleague opens up about feeling swamped, worn down, maybe even close to tears and instead of space to talk, they get:
“Just think positive.”
“Stay grateful.”
“Look on the bright side.”
Sure, those words are meant to help. But sometimes they do the opposite. That’s toxic positivity.
What Is Toxic Positivity?
It’s the pressure to always be upbeat. To “keep smiling” no matter what’s going on.
At work, it can sound like:
“We don’t bring negative energy here.”
“We’re all about good vibes only.”
“Other people have it worse.”
Positivity on its own isn’t bad. But when it pushes out empathy, it tells people their feelings don’t belong. They stop speaking up. They keep things inside. And that’s when the quiet stress turns into burnout.
Why It Matters for Workplace Mental Health
A healthy workplace isn’t one where everyone’s “fine” all the time. It’s one where you can say you’re not okay — and know it won’t be used against you.
When people feel they can’t talk, they start to pull back. Team trust slips. Morale drops. Productivity takes a hit. And good employees? They start looking for the door.
That’s why good organizations invest in things like leadership development, mental health awareness, and anti bullying training in the workplace. Because toxic positivity and workplace bullying might look different, but they share one big problem — they both silence people who need to speak.
What Helps Instead
You don’t have to get rid of positivity. You just need to make space for reality too.
Some simple shifts:
Listen first. Sometimes that’s all a person needs.
Validate feelings. “That sounds hard” is powerful.
Normalize real talk. It should be okay to admit when you’re struggling.
Equip leaders. Help managers notice the signs early and respond with care.
Build safety. Whether through policies, training, or regular check-ins, make sure people know it’s safe to speak.
It’s Not About Being Negative
At the Workplace Mental Health Institute, we’ve seen the shift when organizations replace forced positivity with real, honest support.
It’s not about encouraging negativity — it’s about making space for the truth. And that’s what builds trust. That’s what keeps people engaged.
Our programs, from mental health essentials to anti bullying training in the workplace, are built for that. To help leaders and teams create a culture where people feel respected, supported, and able to be themselves.
Because a team that can talk about the hard stuff? That’s a team that can get through anything together.
Peter Diaz is the CEO of Workplace Mental Health Institute. He’s an author and accredited mental health social worker with senior management experience. Having recovered from his own experience of bipolar depression, Peter is passionate about assisting organizations to address workplace mental health issues in a compassionate yet results-focussed way. He’s also a Dad, Husband, Trekkie and Thinker.
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