Are We Normalizing Toxic Workspaces? | Suresh Dhawan

Connect with Suresh at: Website - https://leads.com.my/ LinkedIN - https://www.linkedin.com/in/sureshdha... TikTok -   / sureshdhawantalks   ------- Workplace mental health is no longer something companies can afford to ignore. In this episode of *Suresh Dhawan Talks**, we explore the realities of **stress, burnout, psychological safety and mental health in the workplace* — and ask an important question: *How much responsibility should employers carry for the mental wellbeing of their employees?* Suresh Dhawan breaks down what he has observed from years of working with organizations and employees, identifying two recurring sources of workplace stress: **people and work**. From excessive workloads and unrealistic expectations to poor relationships with managers and employees being afraid to speak up, the conversation examines how the workplace itself can either support people or slowly wear them down. We also dive into *psychological safety* — whether employees genuinely feel they can challenge decisions, admit mistakes, ask for help or speak honestly to their managers without fearing repercussions. Suresh explains how leaders can build this through a simple progression: engagement creates comfort, comfort builds trust, and trust eventually creates openness. The discussion also tackles **burnout, toxic management, long working hours, being constantly available on WhatsApp, boundaries between bosses and employees, employee turnover, engagement surveys and the growing importance of having difficult conversations at work**. And when someone eventually burns out and resigns — who failed? Suresh argues that responsibility cannot automatically be placed entirely on the organization. Employees also need to understand their own limits, learn how to communicate, ask for help and recognize the type of workplace environment in which they can perform best. We also discuss the growing role of *Mental Health First Aid* and why managers may increasingly need the skills to recognize warning signs and have meaningful conversations with employees experiencing mental health difficulties. Ultimately, Suresh believes healthier Malaysian workplaces will require leaders who understand mental health, employees who are comfortable speaking up, stronger staff forums and a culture where employees are treated almost like an organization's *internal customers* — because how a company treats its people can ultimately determine how those people treat its customers. Timestamps 00:00–03:31 - Workplace stress, workload & psychological pressure 03:31–06:37 - Employer vs employee responsibility for mental health 06:37–12:34 - Profit, leadership & Suresh's toxic workplace story 12:34–14:46 - Employee wellbeing, turnover & engagement surveys 14:46–18:47 - 996 culture, excessive working hours & psychological safety 18:47–24:45 - Building trust, openness & measuring psychological safety 24:45–27:41 - Power distance, skip-level management & Malaysian workplaces 27:41–30:43 - Burnout, saying no & recognizing warning signs 30:43–33:32 - SMEs, always being available & workplace boundaries 33:32–36:48 - Crucial conversations, workplace mental-health training & first aid 36:48–40:50 - Personal mental health, asking for help & mental-health first aid 40:50–45:12 - Burnout resignations, workplace fit & big vs small companies 45:12–47:47 - What a healthier Malaysian workplace should look like 47:47–48:13 - Closing *In this episode:* • Workplace stress and its biggest causes • Employer vs employee responsibility • Psychological safety at work • Toxic managers and workplace culture • Why employees are afraid to speak up • Burnout and unrealistic workloads • The pressure to always be available • Setting boundaries with managers • Mental Health First Aid • Crucial conversations between bosses and employees • Recognizing warning signs of burnout • Why good employees leave • Creating healthier Malaysian workplaces If you're an **employee, manager, HR professional, business owner or team leader**, this is a conversation worth having. *Suresh Dhawan Talks* explores leadership, workplace culture, management, careers and the realities of working life through practical conversations built around real-world experience. Subscribe for more episodes. #SureshDhawanTalks #WorkplaceMentalHealth #MentalHealth #PsychologicalSafety #Burnout #WorkplaceCulture #Leadership #Management #HumanResources #HR #EmployeeWellbeing #WorkplaceStress #Career #Malaysia