Toxic Positivity in the Workplace: A Lesser-Known Psychosocial Hazard
Why ignoring negative emotions in the name of “staying positive” can backfire.
Overlooking difficult emotions in the name of “staying positive” can harm psychological safety. Learn how toxic positivity creates psychosocial risks at work
“Let’s focus on the bright side.”
“Stay positive no matter what.”
“You should be grateful you still have a job.”
While intended to uplift, these common phrases can feel dismissive, especially when employees are dealing with stress, burnout, or grief. In today’s workplace culture, where performance and optimism are often prized, toxic positivity — the dismissal of real emotions in favour of relentless optimism — is becoming a silent psychosocial hazard.
For many professionals, being told to “cheer up” in the face of genuine struggle only deepens feelings of isolation, anxiety, and guilt. Instead of creating a safe and supportive environment, toxic positivity can erode psychological safety and silence those who need help the most.
What is Toxic Positivity?
Toxic positivity refers to the overgeneralisation of a happy, optimistic state that dismisses or invalidates real emotional experiences. It often shows up as:
- Minimising others’ pain (“It could be worse.”)
- Dismissing emotions (“You’re being too negative.”)
- Avoiding difficult conversations (“Let’s not talk about problems right now.”)
While positive thinking is helpful, forcing positivity at the expense of authenticity can cause harm — especially in workplaces where emotional safety is already fragile.
The Hidden Risks of Toxic Positivity in the Workplace
According to a 2023 LinkedIn Workplace Mental Health Survey:
- 58% of employees said they felt pressured to hide their emotions to appear professional.
- 42% admitted they avoided raising concerns to avoid being seen as “negative.”
Unchecked, toxic positivity can become a psychosocial hazard that:
- Discourages emotional expression
- Suppresses psychological needs
- Creates a culture of silence and superficiality
- Prevents early intervention for stress, anxiety, or burnout
How It Impacts Workplace Wellbeing
- Emotional Suppression: When emotions are ignored or invalidated, stress builds up and leads to emotional exhaustion.
- Shame & Guilt: Employees may feel guilty for struggling or ashamed for not being able to “stay positive.”
- Reduced Help-Seeking: Fear of being judged makes employees less likely to ask for support.
- Damaged Trust: When teams feel forced to perform emotional cheerfulness, authenticity and trust are lost.
How Leaders Can Prevent Toxic Positivity and Promote Psychological Safety
- Normalise All Emotions
Create space for teams to express a full range of feelings — not just the “positive” ones. - Model Authenticity
Leaders who are honest about their own challenges foster trust and real connection. - Train Managers on Empathetic Communication
Help leaders learn how to respond supportively to emotional disclosures without minimising or redirecting. - Shift From “Fixing” to “Listening”
Not every emotion needs a solution. Sometimes, holding space and validating someone’s experience is enough. - Build Emotional Literacy into Wellbeing Programs
Teach teams how to recognise, name, and navigate emotions in psychologically safe ways.
Positivity with Perspective
True workplace wellbeing doesn’t come from avoiding hard conversations. It comes from creating an environment where all emotions — joy, stress, grief, frustration — are welcome and safely expressed.
When teams feel psychologically safe to be real, they become more resilient, confident, creative, and connected.
Key Takeaways:
Positivity Shouldn’t Be a Mask
Toxic positivity may seem harmless, but it undermines authenticity, psychological health, and organisational culture. As leaders, it’s time to replace toxic cheerfulness with empathetic leadership and emotional honesty.
Explore our training in Managing Work-Related Psychological Health and Safety to learn how we help workplaces balance positivity with psychological safety.
