Empathy is neutral. It’s just the ability to infer a mental state from outward signs by feel rather than by deduction.
Discussion
In the correct amount it’s neutral, but too much of it is destructive.
In my field, animal behavior, empathy has a definition. Colloquially, the word can mean something different depending on context. For example, it gets conflated with sympathy or with compassion. In my field, these are different things and I believe precision helps us communicate and understand the world more effectively.