Government warns 'cut throat jobs' are a health concern

Chronic stress conditions make you more vulnerable to infection, depression and heart disease.

Collage: Emilia Tortorella

Chronic stress conditions make you more vulnerable to infection, depression and heart disease.

The top US medical authority is officially warning 'cutthroat' workplaces are a health concern. 

The US Surgeon general - known as “America’s doctor” and the foremost spokesperson on medical guidance on health hazards like nicotine or viruses - has issued guidance about the physical and mental impacts of long hours, limited autonomy at work and low wages, the Wall Street Journal reports.

“Toxic workplaces are harmful to workers—to their mental health, and it turns out, to their physical health as well,” Surgeon general Dr Vivek Murthy said. 

‘Disrespectful’, ‘cutthroat’ or ‘toxic’ workplaces create chronic stress conditions which increase vulnerability to infection, depression, heart disease, and also disrupts sleep.

Competing personal and professional demands can magnify psychological stress and increase the likelihood of alcohol consumption, unhealthy diets, and personal relationship conflicts, according to research cited from Mental Health America.

“People are asking themselves what they want out of work,” Dr. Murthy told the Wall Street Journal. “They’re also asking themselves what they’re willing to sacrifice for work, and the fundamental questions are reshaping people’s relationships with the workplace.”

Dr. Vivek Murthy. Picture: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images/AFP

The report extends beyond making the medical case for wellbeing reform at work by highlighting the link between poor health and lower organisational productivity.

"When people feel anxious or depressed, the quality, pace, and performance of their work tends to decline," the report reads, citing research from the US Chamber of Commerce.

America’s doctor recommends companies provide employees with a roadmap for long term professional growth, build a culture of gratitude and recognition, and respect boundaries of non-work time.

So you've heard of quiet quitting...maybe even quiet firing... but quiet dumping?