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What Is Toxic Positivity and How Is It Bad for Your Workplace?
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What Is Toxic Positivity and How Is It Bad for Your Workplace?

Positivity is a virtue – but too much of it can be toxic. Here's how toxic positivity creates an unhealthy work environment.

Jamela Adam
U.S. News, 2023
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Every cloud has a silver lining, right? Though this sentiment is well-meaning, when the corporate culture makes light of serious challenges – or, worse, denies they exist – employee burnout increases and morale plummets. In a brief article for U.S. News & World Report, writer Jamela Adam sheds light on the harm that can result when well-intentioned optimism deteriorates into toxic positivity. Adam offers clues to know when toxic positivity has taken hold and suggests steps that managers and workers can take to combat it.

Take-Aways

  • In the interest of promoting optimism, employers can – inadvertently or intentionally – create toxic positivity.
  • Toxic positivity can damage workers’ mental health, hamper performance and cause problems to fester.
  • To combat toxic positivity, managers and employees must communicate candidly in an environment that boasts psychological safety.

About the Author

Jamela Adam is a writer covering personal finance and business topics.

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