Changing jobs is more common than ever. Many professionals move on to new roles every 3 to 5 years. They do so for a variety of reasons, such as for promotions, to advance their careers or to work for a desirable organization. However, mental health is now at the top of the list of reasons why people are changing jobs, according to new data.
This is certainly a trend our financial recruiters in Toronto have seen over the past few years. People are taking their mental health seriously and are willing to make a career change to do it. Below, we will take a look at this new data.
Current work environments are a reason why employees are changing jobs
Employees are increasingly stating that they work in a toxic work environment. According to survey data:
- 80% of workers say they work in a toxic environment. This is up from 67% in 2024.
- 93% say employers are not doing enough to support their mental health, up from 78% last year.
- Overall, 71% of workers describe their mental health at work as poor (40%) or fair (31%). Only 29% call it good (20%) or great (9%).
What are the top causes of poor employee mental health?
The survey found that the 5 top things are hurting their mental health. Leading the way is toxic culture and poor management, which was cited by more than 50% of respondents:
- Toxic work culture (59%)
- Poor management (54%)
- Lack of growth opportunities (47%)
- Increased workload (47%)
- Staffing shortages (33%)
57% of workers would rather quit than stay in a toxic workplace.
Employees today are no longer willing to settle, especially when it comes to their mental health. The survey found that 63% would prioritize their mental well-being over having a “brag-worthy” job, 43% would pass on a promotion, and 33% would even forgo a raise to protect their mental health.
Instead of staying in a toxic workplace, workers say they would:
- Quit their job (57%)
- Be laid off (42%)
- Take a salary cut (29%)
- Work weekends (23%)
- Give up vacation days for a year (14%)
The recruiter perspective
Mental health is becoming a key driving force behind career decisions. Employers can no longer afford to ignore the impact of workplace culture and leadership on employee well-being. Workers today are setting clearer boundaries and making bold choices to protect their mental health, even if it means leaving a role, declining promotions, or accepting less pay. For organizations, this shift is a wake-up call. Organizations need to create a psychologically safe, supportive environment if they want to retain top talent and build a strong workforce.
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