Mental health at work: New guidelines and declining corporate attention

The Brazilian Labor Court, in partnership with the University of Brasília, has released a new guide titled ‘Mental Health at Work’ as part of an institutional campaign to address psychosocial risks. The publication provides guidance on preventing workplace issues such as burnout syndrome, excessive workloads, and lack of professional recognition. It also emphasizes the ‘right to disconnect,’ highlighting the importance of respecting rest periods, vacations, and time off to preserve worker well-being.

Concurrently, the 2026 Mental Health in Companies Yearbook by Instituto Philos Org reports a decline in corporate attention to psychological well-being. The index dropped from 8.19 to 8.02 on a 16-point scale, despite a 17% increase in medical leaves due to mental disorders between 2024 and 2025. While the finance and technology sectors show higher commitment levels, the food and beverage and agribusiness sectors recorded the lowest scores. The International Labour Organization estimates that anxiety and depression cost the global economy approximately $1 trillion annually.