Clarissa, a 29-year-old creative writer and former marketing executive, said she initially welcomed the opportunity to work from home several days a week. But, over time, the boundaries between work and personal life began disappearing.
“The workload kept increasing because I was considered efficient,” she said. “I was sacrificing my days off to finish assignments and reply to office messages.
“Eventually, people started giving me tasks that were not even part of my job scope.”
Clarissa, who resigned last month after two years of mounting stress and anxiety, said the pressure affected both her mental health and personal life.
“Almost every night, I would wake up suddenly thinking about work the next day,” she said.
Her experience is becoming increasingly common among Malaysian workers navigating burnout, unrealistic workloads, and the expectation to remain constantly available.
Another employee, Minah, a former HR executive, said she left her job after enduring repeated public humiliation from her employer over minor mistakes.
“This may be common in some workplaces, but it should not be normal,” she said. “It affects people emotionally and creates an unhealthy working environment.”
Recent workplace studies suggest burnout continues to rise in Malaysia. According to Employment Hero’s Wellness at Work Report, 67% of workers reported experiencing burnout in 2024, up from 58% in 2022.
Meanwhile, Jobstreet by SEEK’s Workplace Happiness Index found that although many employees feel fulfilled by their jobs, stress and exhaustion remain major concerns.
Consultant physician Dr Wee Hui Yin said chronic workplace stress can quietly affect both physical and mental health.
“Many people do not describe it as burnout; it often appears as fatigue, irritability, sleep issues, and reduced tolerance at work and at home,” she said.
Over time, prolonged stress may also increase the risk of conditions such as hypertension, heart disease and diabetes.
Wee said many employees struggle not because they lack health awareness, but because exhausting routines leave them with little time or energy to care for themselves properly.
“Some people attend annual health screenings every year, but their results do not improve because the underlying stress and lifestyle patterns remain the same,” she added.
Wee believes employers need to move beyond simply encouraging productivity and start paying closer attention to employee well-being, including clearer work boundaries and better emotional support.
Flexible work arrangements can help – but only when managed properly.
Kintone Southeast Asia managing director Tsubasa Nakazawa said flexibility works best when employees have clear responsibilities, transparent communication and realistic expectations.
“In workplaces where flexibility functions smoothly, people understand what they are accountable for and how collaboration happens,” he said.
Jobstreet by SEEK managing director Nicholas Lam added that employees are more likely to thrive when they feel valued, supported and connected to meaningful work.
For Wee, however, the broader message is simple. “Being at work longer does not necessarily make people more effective,” she said. “Healthy employees are ultimately more productive.”