Why is Everyone So Bloody Miserable at Work?

By John Caldwell, CEO RWR Group

We’re in the thick of it right now—big change, big growth, and even bigger expectations.

New leadership. New systems. New people. The kind of momentum we’ve been chasing for years is finally happening. And yet, if I’m being honest, the one thing keeping me up at night isn’t the tech platforms, the strategy, or the P&L.

It’s our people.

I’ve been working hard to bring our team along for the ride—to keep them motivated, connected, and actually enjoying the work. But it’s not easy. In fact, it’s been one of the most confronting challenges of my career. Because despite our best efforts, I’ve started to notice something... and it’s not just in our business. It’s everywhere.

Lately, I’ve been walking through the city doing what I now jokingly call my “undercover investigative journalism” (a.k.a. eavesdropping). And here’s the thing: almost every single conversation I overhear is someone complaining about work.

Their job.
Their boss.
Their workload.
Their colleague.
Their life at work.

Not one positive work-related convo. Not even one. And I’ve been listening, properly listening, for weeks.
So naturally, it’s got me thinking:
What the hell is going on?
Why is no one content?

Is the workplace genuinely broken?
Is the grass actually greener, or is it just fertilised with everyone else’s burnout?
Are we all just carrying something heavier—and work’s become the easiest thing to blame?

The truth is, I don’t think it’s just the workplace. And I don’t think it’s just the people, either. I think we’re in a pressure cooker of change. Economically. Technologically. Culturally. And it’s spinning so fast, a lot of people feel like they’re falling behind or just can’t keep up.
So work cops the flack. Because it’s visible. It’s tangible. It’s where we spend most of our time. And let’s face it—it’s easier to blame your 9–5 than unpack the mess of uncertainty, fear, or personal stuff that might be sitting underneath it all.

As leaders, we do need to create safe, motivating workplaces where people can thrive. But it also makes me wonder: Are we expecting too much from our jobs? Are we asking work to fulfil every desire, validate our worth, and solve all our life problems?

Maybe the real question is this—
Are we unhappy at work…
Or just unhappy in general, and work is the nearest target?

Edina Monsoon (yes, from Absolutely Fabulous) once said:
"Cheer up world—it may bloody never happen."

Maybe she was onto something.
Maybe we all just need to breathe, reset, and remember that sometimes, perspective is the best productivity hack.

I don’t have all the answers—but I’m listening.

And if you’re leading people right now, I’d say keep listening too.

Because in this crazy, changing world, that might just be the most powerful thing any of us can do.