WE HAVE NO VOICE: A QUALITATIVE EXPLORATION OF EMPLOYEE PERCEPTIONS OF HIERARCHY, STRESS, AND MENTAL HEALTH

Abstract

Rigid workplace hierarchies perpetuate employee silence, escalating stress and compromising mental health, particularly in culturally deferential contexts like Pakistan. This qualitative phenomenological study explored mid-to-lower level employees' perceptions in Karachi organizations (healthcare, education, corporate; N=16) through semi-structured interviews analyzed via reflexive thematic analysis. Four interconnected themes emerged:

(1) Rigid hierarchy as a silencing force via power imbalances and reprisal fears.

(2) Suppressed voice fostering emotional isolation.

(3) Hierarchy-induced stress manifesting as hyper vigilance and workload disparities.

(4) Mental health deterioration through burnout and maladaptive coping.

Findings align with global frameworks like the hierarchy of voice while revealing local nuances, such as feudal legacies amplifying disempowerment amid economic pressures. Rigid structures systematically channel unvoiced concerns into psychosocial hazards, confirming hierarchy's mediated pathway to poor well-being. Organizations must prioritize psychological safety and flatter structures; policymakers should integrate hierarchy audits into labor reforms. This study bridges qualitative gaps in non-Western occupational health, urging evidence-based interventions to dismantle "no voice" cultures and foster resilient workforces.