Imagine it’s 7:30 PM on a weekday in Beirut. You’re still at your desk, eyes heavy as you wrap up yet another “urgent” task your boss dropped on you last minute. Meanwhile, the manager’s cousin – who strolls in at 10 AM and leaves by 4 – got a promotion after six months on the job. Sound familiar? Many professionals in Lebanon and the Levant know this story too well. Toxic work environments – where wasta (واسطة) and favoritism trump merit, job security is tenuous, wages barely cover the basics, and marathon workdays are the norm – have become distressingly common. In this blog, we’ll explore how these cultural and economic dynamics create daily stress and burnout for Lebanese and Levantine workers, and discuss practical strategies to cope and push for healthier workplace cultures.

Cultural Dynamics Fueling Toxic Workplaces

Toxic workplaces don’t appear out of thin air; they often stem from deeper cultural and economic forces. In Lebanon and neighboring Levant countries, certain dynamics have a powerful influence on office life:

Wasta and Employer Favoritism Over Merit

Let’s start with the big one: wasta. The Arabic term wasta (واسطة) loosely translates to “connections” or “clout,” and it’s notorious in our region. It means having an insider hook you up – whether it’s landing a job, securing a promotion, or getting special treatment. A common Lebanese quip, “معك واسطة؟” (“Do you have wasta?”), is often said in jest, but it reflects a painful reality. According to a Transparency International survey, Lebanon has the highest rate of wasta in the region at 54%, meaning more than half of Lebanese reported using personal connections to obtain public services or opportunities

In practice, wasta manifests as blatant favoritism. It’s no surprise then that many workplaces feel less like meritocracies and more like family clubs. Stories like this aren’t rare. Over time, they breed resentment among staff who feel their hard work and talent go unrecognized if they “lack a back’’ ‘’ما إلو ضهر’’.

The impact of wasta and favoritism goes beyond just hurt egos – it can cause real psychological distress. When promotions and evaluations are based on connections rather than performance, employees experience discrimination and helplessness. Research in a Qatar found that wasta creates a sense of workplace discrimination and stress among employees

Interviewees described feeling demoralized when they saw less qualified people leapfrogging ahead thanks to connections

In short, wasta undermines the basic workplace fairness that employees crave, leading to frustration, cynicism, and disengagement.

Job Insecurity in a Fragile Economy

Even if you manage to get a job on your own merits, holding onto it is a whole other challenge. Lebanon’s economy has been in crisis for years, and job security is a luxury few enjoy. Unemployment has sky-rocketed – jumping from about 11% in 2018-2019 to nearly 30% in 2022 according to the world bank – and those who are employed often feel one misstep could cost them their livelihood. It’s not uncommon to hear bosses bluntly remind staff, “You should be grateful to even have a job. There are dozens of people waiting to take your spot.” This atmosphere of job insecurity means people cling to toxic jobs out of fear, knowing the job market “barra” abroad is bleak.

The constant worry of “بكرا شو ؟” (“what about tomorrow?”) takes a mental toll. Studies show that living with chronic job insecurity significantly raises stress and burnout levels. For example, a New Zealand study (different context, similar human nature) found that during times of uncertainty, employees who felt their jobs were under threat were 14.5 times more likely to experience high burnout compared to those who felt secure.

The logic is simple: when you’re afraid of being fired or the company itself shutting down, you’re always on edge. In Lebanon’s case, add the anxiety of an economic collapse – salaries losing value, companies downsizing – and workers end up in a constant state of stress about their future.

Low Wages and Long Working Hours

Hand in hand with insecurity come low wages and long working hours, a duo that many Lebanese and Levantine workers know too well. The Lebanese labor market has long been characterized by exploitative working conditions, rising unemployment, and a lack of worker protections.

Real wages have plummeted since the Lebanese Lira’s collapse; a salary that was once comfortable now barely covers your gasoline or generator bills. Young professionals often find themselves accepting salaries in LBP that might equal $100 per month due to hyperinflation – a recipe for constant financial stress. And because jobs are scarce, employers often set the terms with a take-it-or-leave-it attitude.

Low pay might be tolerable if you could balance it with life outside work, but many toxic workplaces demand your time in blood, sweat, and tears. In Lebanon, it’s common for the official workweek to exceed the standard 40 hours. A 6-day week or 45+ hours isn’t unusual, and that’s before the unpaid overtime. Whether it’s staying late to impress the boss (or simply because there’s too much work) or being on call via WhatsApp 24/7, long hours are often glorified. We hear phrases like and please excuse my language “بيشتغل متل الحمار” (“he works like a donkey”) oddly said with a hint of admiration, as if burnout were a badge of honor.

The health effects of these marathon hours are real. Research on Lebanese healthcare workers has shown that extensive working hours and insufficient sleep are associated with high levels of burnout.

Essentially, if you’re routinely working early mornings to late nights, your body and mind don’t get a chance to recover. Overwork can lead to exhaustion, frequent mistakes, and eventually a feeling of being “fried.” And when low pay forces people to take a second job or side gig after their daytime job, the cycle of long hours just continues. It’s a grind that leaves employees feeling used up and irritable, with zero energy left for family or personal life.

The Toll on Employees: Stress, Burnout, and Dissatisfaction

Burnout – that state of mental, physical, and emotional exhaustion – has become alarmingly familiar to workers in toxic environments. The World Health Organization now recognizes burnout as an occupational phenomenon resulting from chronic workplace stress that hasn’t been successfully managed.

If you’ve felt completely drained, cynical about your job, and less effective at work, you’re likely experiencing some degree of burnout. In local terms, you might describe yourself as “نفسيتي تعبت” (my psyche is tired) or joke that your “battery” is dead – as in the illustration above, where the man literally has an empty battery symbolizing his energy.

Workplace stress in toxic settings hits on multiple fronts. First, there’s the psychological strain of unfairness: Watching someone leap ahead due to wasta or favoritism can breed a sense of injustice that weighs on you daily. You might start to think, “Why bother putting in my best effort if it won’t be recognized?” This cynicism and demotivation are classic hallmarks of burnout. In fact, psychologists note that feeling undervalued or discriminated against at work is deeply stressful

Over time, it erodes your engagement and pride in your work.

Then there’s the anxiety piece: Job insecurity means you’re always looking over your shoulder. Will the company lay people off next month? Is your contract going to be renewed? Chronic fear releases stress hormones in our bodies non-stop, which can lead to headaches, trouble sleeping, and that constant knot in your stomach.

It’s hard to relax and do your best work when a little voice in your head keeps whispering, “شو إذا بكرا بطّل عندي شغل؟”(“What if tomorrow I have no job?”).

Let’s not forget the physical exhaustion from long hours. When you’re pulling 10-12 hour days regularly your body pays the price. You’re too tired to exercise, your sleep is short or disturbed, and you might be chugging coffee or smoking more just to cope. This becomes a vicious cycle: fatigue makes you less productive, which means you stay late again to catch up, which leads to more fatigue. Medical experts warn that such chronic overwork can contribute not only to burnout but also to health issues like hypertension or weakened immunity. Burnout isn’t just “in your head” – it manifests in your body and can spiral into serious medical conditions if ignored.

All of this results in deep job dissatisfaction. You start each day dreading work (the Sunday-night dread kicks in hard), and at work you feel trapped and unhappy. It’s heartbreaking because many Lebanese and Levantine professionals are passionate, talented people who want to contribute and succeed. But a toxic environment can poison even the most optimistic soul. You might love your field but hate your job – a painful dilemma. In some cases, people quit without another job lined up, just to escape the toxicity; others join the brain drain, seeking better work conditions abroad, which unfortunately deprives our region of much-needed talent.

Coping with Toxic Work Environments: Strategies for Survival and Growth

So, what can you do if you find yourself stuck in such a work environment? Quitting on the spot isn’t always feasible – we have bills to pay, families to support, and as discussed, jobs aren’t easy to come by. The good news is there are ways to cope and protect your well-being, even while you navigate a less-than-ideal job. Here are some practical strategies, rooted in both common sense and a bit of science, to help you survive – and even thrive – despite the toxicity:

• Build Your Support Network: Don’t tough it out alone. Talk to trusted colleagues who might share your feelings – sometimes just knowing you’re not the only one bothered by the CEO’s tantrums can be validating. Outside of work, lean on friends and family. Rant to your cousin about your day or discuss with a fellow professional over coffee how you both deal with difficult bosses. If stress is really overwhelming, consider seeing a therapist – there’s far less stigma now in Lebanon around therapy than in years past, and a professional can help you process your feelings and strategize responses. Sharing your experience is crucial; as the saying goes, “فضفض” (“let it out”). You’ll feel less isolated and more empowered when you have people in your corner.
• Set Boundaries – and Stick to Them: In a culture where employees often go above and beyond (sometimes out of fear), learning to set boundaries is tough but essential. Start small: maybe you decide that every evening after 8 PM is personal time – you won’t check work email or respond to your manager’s non-urgent late-night WhatsApp messages. If you’re routinely asked to work weekends, find a polite way to push back, like “I have a commitment on Sunday, but I can get this done first thing Monday.” It might feel weird to say no in our ultra-sacrificing work culture, but protecting your off-hours to rest isn’t laziness; it’s survival. Setting boundaries also means prioritizing self-care: get enough sleep (no, 4 hours is not enough), eat regular meals (zipping through drive-thru mana’eesh while stressed doesn’t count), and make time for activities that recharge you. Whether it’s hitting the gym, spending time with your kids, or simply taking a walk on the Corniche, treat those as non-negotiable appointments with yourself.
• Practice Stress-Relief Techniques: When work days are stressful, having outlets to vent and recover is key. One proven method is journaling. Writing down your thoughts and frustrations in a private notebook or a notes app can be incredibly therapeutic. In fact, research found that people who journaled online for 12 weeks significantly reduced their mental distress and built greater resilience.
  So next time your boss blames you for his mistake, try scribbling out exactly what you’d like to say on paper – you might find your anger easing. Other stress relief techniques include deep breathing exercises (stepping away to inhale calm, exhale stress), meditation or prayer, and engaging in hobbies. Many Lebanese find solace in simply driving to the mountains or the sea on a day off – a change of scenery to clear the mind. Figure out what relaxes you and make it a routine, not a rare treat.
• Get Moving: It’s tempting to collapse on the couch after an exhausting workday, but physical activity is one of the best antidotes to work stress. You don’t have to start training for a marathon – even a brisk 30-minute walk in your neighborhood can help. Exercise releases endorphins, those feel-good hormones, and even reduces the stress hormones like cortisol in your body.
  Essentially, breaking a sweat can flush out some of the day’s toxicity. Maybe join a local football game on the weekend or a dance class after work. Not only does exercise boost your mood, it also gives you a sense of accomplishment outside of work. When you’ve run 5K or done a yoga session, you remind yourself that you have a life and goals beyond the office. As they say, “أهمّ شي الصحّة” (health is the most important thing) – and investing in your health will make you more resilient against workplace stress.
• Document and Constructively Address Issues: If certain toxic behaviors are recurring – say, a colleague constantly dumps their workload on you or a supervisor crosses the line into harassment – start documenting these incidents. Keep a record of what happened and when. This isn’t about being petty; it’s about having facts if you ever need to escalate the issue to HR or higher management. When you do decide to speak up (and I encourage you to, if the environment is truly abusive or unethical), approach it calmly and professionally. Rather than a heated confrontation, request a private meeting with your manager or HR. Explain the issue and how it’s affecting your work. For example, “When I regularly have to stay until 9 PM to cover others’ tasks, I’ve been feeling burnt out and it’s impacting my performance. Can we discuss a more sustainable workload distribution?” This way, you’re framing it as a productivity concern – a language that even tough bosses might understand. There’s no guarantee management will change, but at least you’ve voiced your needs. Sometimes, this can lead to small improvements, like adjusting deadlines or clarifying roles. And if nothing changes, your documented evidence might come in handy should you choose to pursue other action or negotiate your exit.
• Plan Your Exit Strategy (Smartly): Coping strategies can help in the short term, but let’s be honest – staying in a toxic job forever is not ideal. It’s important to have a Plan B for yourself. That could mean exploring the job market discreetly, updating your CV and LinkedIn, boost your skills maybe take an online course to or learn a new language – anything that enhances your ‘’mobility’’ (if you know what I mean), even within your company, if there’s a chance to transfer to a different department under a better manager, pursue it. The key is not to feel completely stuck. Once you have some savings or a potential offer lined up, you’ll feel more confident pushing back against unreasonable demands – because you know you could walk away. And if/when you do leave, you’ll be better prepared to seek out a healthier workplace next time.

Conclusion

Toxic work environments in Lebanon and the Levant are a product of our unique circumstances – a mix of cultural practices like wasta, economic hardship, and outdated corporate habits. They have left many of us feeling overworked, under appreciated, and just plain exhausted. If you’re living this reality, know that you’re not alone, and it’s not your fault. The stress and burnout you feel are a logical human reaction to an unhealthy situation.

While we may not fix the system overnight, we can take steps to protect ourselves and support each other. By setting boundaries, finding support, and caring for our physical and mental health, we can mitigate the damage toxic workplaces cause. And by speaking up and advocating for better treatment – even in small ways – we chip away at the toxicity, paving the path for a better work culture for the next generation. Imagine offices where promotions are based on merit, where leaving on time is normal, and where bosses treat you as a valuable team member rather than just a resource. This shouldn’t be a fantasy. With gradual change, “شوي شوي” (little by little), it can become reality.

At the end of the day, a job should provide you with income and dignity, not take them away. If you’re stuck in a toxic job right now, hang in there. Use the coping tools at your disposal, and keep your eyes on the horizon for better opportunities. Your well-being is worth it. We all deserve workplaces that bring out the best in us, not the worst, and it’s up to all of us – employees, managers, and society – to demand and create that healthier future. Stay strong, take care of yourself, and remember that you have more power than you think, even if the situation seems tough. As Lebanese and Levantine professionals, we’ve weathered many storms; with solidarity and persistence, we can overcome this challenge too and build work cultures that we’re proud to be a part of.

At Cognitive Analytica, we are dedicated to providing evidence-based mental health support in Lebanon and beyond. Our expert psychotherapists specialize in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), personalized counseling, workplace stress management, employee counseling, and mental resilience training. We help individuals manage anxiety, stress, and life challenges, while also supporting professionals in navigating workplace difficulties, burnout prevention, and career development.

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