More and more workers are looking for a balance between work and personal life and prioritize their mental health over advancing at work.
A growing number of workers are prioritizing their mental well-being over career advancement, with many willing to reject promotions and higher-paying job opportunities if they believe additional responsibilities will negatively affect their quality of life, according to new research.
conducted by careers platform Kickresume, surveyed 1,028 workers about mental health in the workplace and the value they place on wellbeing support offered by their employer. The results suggest that concerns about the stress, burnout and work-life balance they are reshaping traditional attitudes towards career progression.
According to the survey, 80% of respondents said their jobs contributed to mental health problems, while almost 40% reported leaving a job due to mental health concerns.
Research also found that mental health benefits are becoming a deciding factor in evaluating employment opportunities. Seven in ten respondents said they would turn down a well-paid position if the employer did not support mental well-beingsuch as access to counseling services, therapy programs, or other psychological well-being resources. Perhaps the most notable finding is that many workers indicated that would refuse internal promotionsdespite the prospect of a salary and status increase.
Peter Duris, CEO and co-founder of Kickresume, said several factors are driving this change. Workers may be recovering from burnout, dealing with family responsibilities, caring for children or elderly family members, or simply seek a more sustainable lifestyle.
“Stressful, high-pressure work can have a significant impact on mental health,” Duris noted.
Experts say this trend reflects a broader shift in workplace culture, where traditional norms of success are being questioned. Rather than viewing career progression as a linear climb up the corporate ladder, workers are increasingly making choices based on personal well-being and long-term sustainability.
