# An X-ray of discouragement: why only 7% of Brazilian professionals say they are happy at work

A new survey shows that the vast majority of workers in the country live with anxiety, discouragement and emotional exhaustion in their corporate routine.

- Section: Culture & Management
- Published: October 19, 2026
- Address: https://ceoone.com.br/en/article/an-x-ray-of-discouragement-why-only-7-of-brazilian-professionals-say
- Em português: https://ceoone.com.br/artigo/radiografia-do-desalento-o-que-explica-o-fato-de-que-so-7-dos-profissi.md

![Black and white photo of two people working on laptops at an office desk](https://pub-b80e49b2737940b3ab5d3f20d0578192.r2.dev/artigos/radiografia-do-desalento-o-que-explica-o-fato-de-que-so-7-dos-profissi-foto.webp)

Photo: Charles Deluvio/Unsplash

## Key points

- Vidalink's Check-up de Bem-Estar surveyed about 11,800 professionals from 290 companies: only 7% say they are fully happy at work.
- 70% report recurring anxiety, distress or discouragement at work, up from 63% in the previous survey; among Generation Z, exhaustion reaches 78%.
- 30% take no steps to care for their mental health, for lack of money, time or guidance.

Emotional well-being in the Brazilian corporate market has reached a critical warning point. The fourth edition of the Check-up de Bem-Estar (Well-Being Check-up) study, conducted by Vidalink with about 11,800 professionals from 290 companies in the country, found that only seven in every hundred workers say they are fully happy and fulfilled in their jobs. The survey exposes a structural mismatch between the productivity demands of the daily routine and the mental endurance of teams, making emotional health management a matter of operational survival for organizations.

The data point to a continued deterioration of mental health indicators compared with previous surveys. About 70% of respondents report recurring episodes of anxiety, distress or discouragement during the workday, a significant increase from 63% in the previous period. Task overload, pressure for immediate results and the constant fragmentation of attention emerge as the main drivers of burnout, directly affecting engagement, talent retention and performance at companies.

The survey's demographic analysis shows marked vulnerability among Generation Z professionals, among whom dissatisfaction and emotional exhaustion reach 78% of respondents. At the same time, the gender breakdown shows that women face higher levels of anxiety and discouragement than men in every age group. Human resources specialists attribute this disparity to the double shift and the unequal division of family responsibilities, factors that drastically reduce the time available for recovery, rest and self-care.

Given this diagnosis, the passivity of the professionals themselves and the lack of effective support from companies make the burnout worse. The study shows that 30% of participants say they take no practical steps to care for their mental health, citing financial barriers, lack of time and lack of proper guidance. Chronic anxiety drains employees' energy reserves, creating a cycle in which the exhausted person keeps putting off the support that could restore their emotional balance.

Changing this picture requires a profound shift in the approach of leaders and people management departments. Investing in corporate well-being is no longer a cosmetic differentiator or a secondary benefit but a strategic business decision. Healthy workplaces require realistic goals, prevention of psychosocial risks, encouragement of digital disconnection and accessible channels for psychological support, ensuring the sustainability of human capital in the long term.

## Sources and editorial notes

- Reference reporting: Forbes Brasil, Forbes Carreira, Check-up de Bem-Estar Vidalink, Você S/A, Você RH.

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