Have you ever been told you are a “bleeding heart” or do you find yourself stretched thin with competing work priorities at the expense of your own well-being? Do you recognize the pressure to always “do more… push through it.. hold it together” even when it comes at a personal cost? This is Toxic Productivity.
On Sept 3, the Sector 18 Mental Health and Addictions Division held an exclusive conference call titled “Tips and Tools Talk: What is Toxic Productivity?”
For equity workers—Black, Indigenous, Racialized, 2SLGBTQ+, Women, young workers and senior staff—this pressure is compounded by systemic inequities, discrimination, and the constant demand to prove one’s value in the workplace. Within unionized health care environments, including mental health organizations, the impacts of Toxic Productivity can be profound: burnout, moral injury, and barriers to advancement.
During the session, we explored:
- The roots of Toxic Productivity in health care and how it disproportionately affects equity seeking staff.
- Personal and organizational tools to disrupt the cycle and reclaim rest, balance, and purpose.
- Legislation & Union collective agreement strategies to address workload, equity, and psychological safety.
You can view the full conference here.