Move toward safety

If work feels unsafe, move to a safer place if possible. Contact emergency services if there is violence, threats, stalking, harassment, or immediate danger.

Tell one trusted person

Workplace crisis can feel isolating. Tell someone trusted what is happening, especially if you feel overwhelmed, unsafe, or unable to cope.

Document what happened

If safe, keep dates, screenshots, emails, messages, payslips, contracts, incident notes, and names of witnesses or support people.

It may include

• Job loss, redundancy, reduced hours, or income shock
• Workplace bullying, harassment, or intimidation
• Discrimination, unfair treatment, or unsafe conditions
• Burnout, panic, shutdown, or severe work stress
• Being pressured to work while unwell or unsafe
• Work conflict affecting housing, food, medication, or family stability
• Feeling trapped, hopeless, or unable to return to work safely

When it is urgent

• You are in danger at work
• Someone has threatened you
• You feel unsafe travelling to or from work
• You cannot access food, housing, medication, or basic needs after job loss
• You are having suicidal thoughts or self-harm urges
• Your health is rapidly declining because of work stress

Gentle content notice

This page discusses job loss, bullying, discrimination, burnout, unsafe work, financial pressure, workplace trauma, and crisis support. Please pause if needed.

Stabilise the basics

• Food and groceries
• Rent, housing, or emergency shelter
• Medication and healthcare
• Transport and phone access
• Benefits, income support, or emergency payments

Use support early

Contact employment services, social services, legal support, unions, worker advice lines, community organisations, or crisis support before everything becomes unmanageable.

Protect your documents

Keep copies of employment agreements, termination letters, rosters, payslips, written warnings, medical notes, and messages connected to the issue.

What can help

• Listen without judgement.
• Take bullying, harassment, burnout, and job loss seriously.
• Help them document what happened.
• Help them contact employment, legal, financial, or crisis support.
• Check if they have food, shelter, medication, and safe transport.

What to avoid

• Do not say “just get another job” if they are in crisis.
• Do not minimise bullying or discrimination.
• Do not pressure them to return to unsafe work.
• Do not contact their workplace without consent unless immediate safety requires urgent help.

Helpful phrase

“I believe this is affecting you. Let’s focus on what keeps you safe and supported today.”

Small wins count

• Asking for help
• Saving key documents
• Making one phone call
• Eating or resting after stress
• Applying for support
• Setting one boundary

You are more than your job

Your worth is not measured by employment status, income, productivity, or how much you can cope with.

Support can be practical

Support may include financial help, legal advice, workplace advocacy, medical care, counselling, union support, or emergency help.

New Zealand / Aotearoa

• Emergency: 111
• Employment New Zealand: workplace rights and employment information
• Work and Income: financial and job support
• Community Law: legal information and local legal help
• 1737: free call/text emotional support

Australia

• Emergency: 000
• Fair Work Ombudsman: workplace rights and pay support
• Services Australia: financial and employment support
• Lifeline: 13 11 14
• Legal Aid: check your state or territory

United States

• Emergency: 911
• 988 Lifeline: call, text, or chat 988
• Department of Labor: workplace rights information
• EEOC: discrimination support and complaints
• 2-1-1: local food, housing, employment, and financial support in many areas

Canada

• Emergency: 911
• 9-8-8 Canada: call/text crisis support
• Employment and Social Development Canada: employment information
• Provincial employment standards offices
• 211 Canada: local community and financial supports

United Kingdom

• Emergency: 999 or 112
• ACAS: workplace rights, disputes, and employment advice
• Citizens Advice: employment, debt, and legal guidance
• Samaritans: 116 123
• Turn2us: benefits and financial support search

International / Global

• Find a Helpline: search by country and topic
• International Labour Organization: labour standards and worker rights information
• Local unions, legal aid, worker advice, social services, and community organisations

Text or chat support

Text and webchat can help when phone calls feel too hard, unsafe, or overwhelming.

Communication access

For AAC, typing, writing, plain language, interpreter support, or extra processing time.

Neurodivergent crisis support

For burnout, shutdown, rejection sensitivity, sensory overload, ADHD overwhelm, or autistic work stress.

Crisis Support by Topic

Explore all crisis topic support pathways.

Financial Crisis & Hardship

For debt, poverty, benefits, food insecurity, and financial stress.

Legal & Personal Safety

For threats, harassment, discrimination, stalking, or safety concerns.

Anxiety, Panic & Overwhelm

For panic, work stress, burnout, shutdown, or emotional overwhelm.

Medical & Health Crisis

For health symptoms, illness, injury, burnout-related health decline, or urgent concerns.

Crisis Support by Location

Find support by country or region.