Brazil's workforce faces record burnout, HR summit calls for humane leadership

Brazil ranks second worldwide for burnout incidence, behind only Japan, according to the International Stress Management Association. A new study by the mental‑health edtech Starbem surveyed 1,868 users and found that 72% of Brazilian workers operate in a chronic “survival mode,” showing the highest levels of acute tension. Participants reported severe sleep problems, with 58% sleeping poorly, and a marked drop in empathy and strategic thinking. Experts say this constant state of alert has become a cultural norm, reducing productivity and increasing presenteeism.

In response, the Associação Brasileira de Recursos Humanos (ABRH) announced the CONARH 2026 conference, the largest HR event in Latin America, themed “Brazil Global: The Future of Management is Human.” The agenda emphasizes a new code of leadership that couples performance with wellbeing, citing research that human‑focused leadership raises team performance by 12% and cuts turnover by 18%. Sessions will address the pressures of artificial‑intelligence‑driven work, urging leaders to balance empathy with accountability and to preserve employee trust in high‑pressure environments.