Workplace Survival and the Impact of Giving a Sh!t

The Paradox of Survival

Have you ever been so focused on just getting through the day that everything else falls to the side? The emails, the deadlines, the endless list of tasks; survival mode takes over, and anything beyond “just deliver” feels like too much.

In that state, caring can feel like a disadvantage. Checking in with a colleague, pausing to notice how someone’s really doing, or questioning whether the pace is sustainable, all of it feels optional when you’re just trying to keep your head above water.

Let’s unpack why empathy often disappears in busy workplaces and why bringing it back might be the smartest move you make.

But here’s the paradox: not caring might help you survive the week, but it comes at a cost. Over time, it drains meaning from the work and erodes the very culture needed to thrive.

Why Caring Feels Harder Than Ever

It’s not that people don’t want to care; it’s that modern workplaces make it harder.

Busyness eats away at emotional bandwidth. Everyone’s drowning in to-do lists, so empathy gets pushed to the bottom of the pile.

Individual metrics encourage self-preservation. When your performance is judged in isolation, it’s tempting to prioritise your own targets over collective wellbeing.

And the pressure to “just deliver” leaves little room for connection. Caring takes a back seat, and survival mode becomes the default where people do their jobs, but keep their heads down and their hearts tucked away.

The Cost of Not Giving a Sh!t

The short-term picture looks fine. People keep moving. Deadlines get met. On paper, productivity is there.

But underneath, the cracks show. Disengagement creeps in. Burnout rises. Trust and collaboration start to fade.

Research makes it clear: disengaged teams have higher turnover and lower performance. A culture that values survival over care might squeeze results in the short run, but it’s fragile. It’s the equivalent of running a marathon by sprinting the first mile. It doesn’t end well.

The Strength of Actually Caring

Empathy is often the first thing to vanish in busy workplaces, and that disappearance comes at a high cost.

When people feel cared for, psychological safety grows. Teams bounce back faster from setbacks. Belonging deepens, and loyalty follows.

And the benefits aren’t just emotional. Teams that feel supported innovate more, take smarter risks, and adapt more quickly when things change.

Caring shifts a workplace from survival mode, where people protect themselves, into growth mode, where they’re willing to stretch, contribute, and build together.

Caring Without Burning Out

Of course, caring doesn’t mean carrying everyone’s burdens. No one needs another full-time job as the office therapist.

It’s about small, sustainable acts that make people feel seen:

• Recognition in the moment, not just at review time.

• Genuine listening, even if it’s for five minutes.

• Respecting boundaries, your own and others’.

Caring becomes powerful when it’s consistent. Reframing it as strategic, something that fuels performance and resilience, helps it land as part of how we work, not something “extra” to do.

Survival vs. Thriving

Not caring might feel like the easiest way to cope, but it empties the workplace of meaning. It turns work into a transaction. Get in, get out, survive another day.

Caring, even in small ways, makes work human again. It builds the kind of culture where people don’t just survive the week but actually want to be part of what they’re building.

Giving a sh!t isn’t weakness. It’s what makes work sustainable, creative, and worth showing up for.