An AI Picture of the Workplace in 2026 — A Lot of Us are Really Burned Out

Kickresume is an AI career tool. It recently polled 1,028 employees in various jobs to how they feel about the mental health benefits offered by their employers. A somewhat frightening 80% said their employers are responsible for their poor mental health.

This attitude prevails whether they use those mental health benefits or not.

Looking at that 80%, Kickresume found 40% had quit jobs previously because of what the job did to their mental health. That’s not super shocking but what is a big surprise is 70% saying they’d turn down a higher-paying gig if it didn’t include some very good mental health benefits.

Peter Duris is the CEO and co-founder of Kickresume. He said not only will those surveyed turn down a job offered from outside the company, they’d say no to one offered by their current employer.

“Job-dropping (or deliberately looking for a role with less pressure and fewer responsibilities) is an enticing prospect for a lot of people, for various reasons,” Duris said. “Stressful, high-pressure work might have led to burnout and [a] negative impact on their mental health. They might be balancing work with family responsibilities, whether that’s looking after their children or caring for aging parents. They might simply be craving a change in direction or a better work-life balance.”

Duris concluded that no matter how difficult that decision would be, and in spite of how expensive it is to live in this country these days, it’s obvious that employees are putting good mental health, and a sense of well-being, over having a higher income.

“Turning down a promotion or job you’ve been offered at a new company can also feel like a hard decision — especially if you know you want a high-level position in the future, just not right now,” he noted. “While we often call it a ‘career ladder,’ people’s progression isn’t always so linear. While a promotion and a bigger title might often be associated with success, lots of people are making decisions for their own wellbeing that might look, from the outside, like a step down.”

Source link: New York Post — https://bit.ly/4ey0DNH