Does Your Organization Encourage Toxic Productivity? How to Break the Habit

Jennifer Moss was interviewed for ReWorked to talk about toxic productivity. Toxic productivity is a harmful work culture where employees feel compelled to prioritize work over their personal lives, mental health, and well-being. It often stems from a pervasive hustle culture, where success is defined by status and wealth, pushing individuals to work harder at the expense of their health and time. Signs of toxic productivity include leaders rewarding employees for going above and beyond, excessive expectations for availability outside working hours, and a relentless focus on profitability and growth. This culture is amplified when companies celebrate the hustle, fail to model healthy boundaries, or mandate long hours, such as through return-to-office policies. Additionally, the rise of artificial intelligence has added to the pressure, as employees may feel the need to justify their roles by working harder, even as AI automates tasks.

Toxic productivity can have detrimental effects on both employees and companies. For workers, the constant pressure leads to burnout, reduced productivity, mistakes, missed deadlines, and a lack of motivation. This, in turn, results in disengagement, with only 31% of employees feeling engaged at work in 2024, according to Gallup. Increased burnout also contributes to higher turnover rates, and women are disproportionately affected, often balancing additional unpaid labor at home and at work.

To avoid toxic productivity, organizations must recognize the behaviors that encourage it. Defining clear work boundaries is essential, with leaders modeling behaviors like respecting work hours, refraining from after-hours communication, and encouraging employees to disconnect and take time off. By prioritizing mental health and modeling healthy work-life boundaries, companies can mitigate the negative impacts of toxic productivity.