Unlocking employee wellbeing: Insights + action steps from the Work in America Report

The 2023 Work in America Report from the American Psychology Association gives a peek into critical aspects of the modern workplace. We People leaders are busy, so we distilled key findings and provided actionable insights to improve your employees' lives and create a thriving work atmosphere.

Spot toxicity in the workplace.

Almost one-fifth of employees believe their workplace is toxic and negatively impacting their mental health.

If you have employees dealing with clients or customers, they likely have it much more challenging than the rest of your organization. And, if someone is unhappy with their job, they're more likely to call their workplace toxic and seek other opportunities.

Stats from the 2023 Work in America Report:

• Prevalence of toxicity: 19% of respondents perceive their workplace as toxic.
• Industry variance: Client/service workers (26%) are likelier to label workplaces as toxic.
• Impact on mental health: Toxic workplaces are associated with fair or poor mental health (58%).
• Demographic disparities: Women (23%) and people with disabilities (26%) are more likely to perceive workplaces as toxic.
• Industry variations: Nonprofit and government workers report higher toxicity rates (25-26%).

Ways People leaders can reduce toxicity at work:

• Conduct regular surveys: Regularly check in with employees at all levels to keep a pulse on workplace sentiments and make data-driven decisions.
• Implement anti-toxicity measures: Develop policies to address negative workplace behavior promptly.
• Provide mental health resources: Offer resources and wellbeing training to support employees facing mental health challenges and people managers who oversee them.
• Tailor interventions: Address specific challenges faced by various demographics and industries.

Nobody likes a bully.

Yes, bullying still happens after you get out of school.

Approximately a quarter of employees say they've been yelled at or verbally abused at work in the past year. Of those respondents, workers with disabilities reported higher rates of both verbal abuse and bullying.

Stats from the 2023 Work in America Report:

• Verbal abuse: 24% report experiencing verbal abuse at work.
• Industry impact: Customer/service providers (31%) are more likely to face verbal abuse.
• Disability disparities: 27% of workers with disabilities experience workplace bullying.

Ways People leaders can reduce bullying at work:

• Implement anti-bullying programs: Develop programs to help employees spot, address and prevent workplace bullying.
• Provide training: Foster a culture of respect and inclusivity, where differences are celebrated.
• Establish support systems: Offer resources and counseling for employees facing abuse or bullying.

Discrimination isn’t dead.

Discrimination is still prevalent in the workplace. One-quarter of our workers are witnessing slights, insults or jokes targeting identities, with many employees experiencing discrimination first-hand.

Stats from the 2023 Work in America Report:

• Workplace discrimination: 22% witness discrimination at work, while 15% experience it first-hand.
• Identity-based insults: 28% observe insults based on identity.
• Direct discrimination: 19% report being targets of discrimination.

Ways People leaders can reduce discrimination at work:

• Enhance DEI policies: Strengthen policies to address discrimination.
• Provide DEI training: Educate employees on the benefits of diverse teams.
• Establish reporting mechanisms: Ensure employees can safely report discrimination.

Check out this IRL example of putting inclusivity and equity into action

Build a future of wellbeing.

Navigating the challenges identified in the Work in America Report might seem tricky, but People leaders can make a big difference. By addressing toxicity, abuse and discrimination, you can create workplaces where wellbeing thrives and employees flourish.

Learn how Signifyd partnered with Electives to create a "Month of Wellbeing"

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