33% US employees would rather clean a toilet than ask for help, finds study 

The report underscores how severely social muscle atrophy (SMA) can undermine trust and open communication. (Representational image)

About 33 percent of US employees would rather clean a toilet than ask a colleague for help, a new study has found, highlighting the silent crisis of workplace disconnection. The report titled The Hidden Strength Powering Workplace Performance: Social Muscles explores how weakening social skills—termed Social Muscle Atrophy (SMA)—are quietly eroding collaboration, trust, and productivity across workplaces.

Conducted by Henna Pryor and Pryority LLC, on 750 participants aged 18 to 65 who are currently
employed full-time or part-time, it paints a sobering picture: stress, burnout, and isolation are now routine symptoms of SMA, with younger workers—especially Gen Z and younger Millennials—reporting significantly higher rates of social strain than their older counterparts.

'Younger workers feel the impact even more intensely'
The report underscores how severely SMA can undermine trust and open communication.
"Our data indicates younger workers feel the impact even more intensely: Gen Z experienced SMA-related challenges 27 percent more often (average difference across all challenges tested) than boomers, while younger millennials came in close behind at 23 percent more often," it stated.

"These gaps serve as a warning sign that organisations can’t afford to ignore. Left unaddressed, SMA fuels a cycle where employees avoid seeking support, problems worsen, and siloed behavior and burnout become the norm. It reflects a growing discomfort with vulnerability and interpersonal engagement at work."

Executives aren’t immune either. As per the report, 43 percent admitted to false self-sufficiency, a belief that asking for help signals weakness. The result? A workplace culture where 56 percent of employees prefer to tackle projects alone, despite 84 percent agreeing that strong social skills are essential for navigating change.

The cost of silence
Beyond individual discomfort, SMA is taking a toll on organisations. The report links it to higher turnover, reduced innovation, and rising cynicism, especially among managers and team leads. One of the most affected groups, Gen Z, reported SMA-related challenges 18.4 percent more often than Boomers, suggesting a generational urgency that leaders can’t afford to ignore.

The path forward
From structured feedback loops to guided conflict-resolution workshops, the report urged leaders to treat social skill-building as a strategic investment, not a soft-skill afterthought.

“Social muscle won’t develop overnight,” the report concludes, “but with intentional design and persistent practice, it can become a self-reinforcing cycle of positivity and progress.”