Within two days of me having penned the piece “Transforming toxic workspaces”, news on social media broke of a lady having jumped to her death from the 7th floor of her workplace. A building belonging to one of the big four banks in the country, she’d reached her breaking point—she’d seen no way out. This comes shortly after LinkedIn was a buzz when a distraught mother penned an open letter sharing her pain at losing her daughter to suicide. She was an employee at one of the big auditing firms, where she was at the start of a promising career that she planned and worked for.

She shared how her daughter had worked hard and pushed to work even harder. Faced with odd working hours and harsh working conditions, she spoke about how the same work ethic, dedication, and self determination that was to be credited for her academic success became her undoing in the workplace. Sadly, not one of her coworkers attend the funeral or paid their respects in anyway. It is a very real possibility that in both cases, these women have already been replaced and operations continue as normal. Social media also quietened down and moved onto the next trending topic. The next tragedy or dance challenge.

Workplace culture and its effects is something that is really close to my heart due to my previous personal experience. This is because of the impact that it has, yes on the individual but more so on those close to us. Our journeys are a team effort, our tribes come together to help us get through school, prepare for interviews, and even get money together for transport. We then work to give those loved ones a better life, a thank you to them and an offering to those that come after us, the motivation sits outside of ourselves—especially working in spaces that don’t align with our passions.

Not everyone is fortunate enough to have an occupation that makes their heart sing. Which is why when one chooses to leave their loved ones behind because of the heavy burdens of the workplace, it is a great loss—one that we must stand up to. And do so as the in the same collective manner that gets us into these spaces. It is a pain that transcends titles, levels, or pay scales. Absenteeism, presentism, and quiet quitting are addressed by companies because they affect productivity and ultimately the firm’s bottom line, but a deceased employee is simply replaced with another. The cost is much less than that of a sickly employee.

While this might seem harsh or callous, the unfortunate truth is that many businesses prioritise profit margins over the well-being of their employees. This creates an environment where people are seen as expendable rather than integral to the organisation’s success. When leaders fail to foster a culture of empathy, support, and respect, it trickles down to every level of the company. A healthy workplace is not just about offering perks like flexible hours or free snacks; it’s about cultivating a sense of belonging, recognition, and respect for the individual beyond their work output.

Addressing this plague is easier said than done, for as long as there are tummies to feed and bills to be paid, we will have individuals occupying spaces out of necessity rather than love and passion. But I will repeat my sentiments that these spaces are fed and created by people, by us that occupy them. How pleasant or traumatic they are depends on the ideas and cultures we choose to foster. In many companies, performance reviews are underway as bonus and increase season creeps along. Like many other seasons, it brings with it shifts in mindset and attitude. Competition breeds nastiness and contempt, coupled with yearend fatigue makes for a ticking time bomb. At this time, we all regret saying, “I work well under pressure”.

We need to make a shift from workplaces being death traps where people take their lives or others are left for dead for four days at their desks before someone notices that something is amiss to spaces of growth and intentional presence. Surely happier, more peaceful spaces make for increased productivity, collective growth, and greater rewards for all involved? As we edge closer to the end of the year and the pace of life picks up, I wish mindfulness, peace, and resilience for all.