Podcast Summary
Exploring wellness trends and debunking meaningless thought leadership: The Financial Times' new podcast, Working It, discusses workplace trends, big ideas, and debunks meaningless thought leadership in the wellness industry, worth over $1.5 trillion, growing at a rate of up to 10% annually.
In today's rapidly changing world, it's essential to prioritize self-care and consider new ways of working to maintain well-being. As heard in the first episode of the Financial Times' new podcast, Working It, host Isabelle Berwick interviewed Lorna Borenstein, who, after feeling burnt out and exhausted, founded a wellness company, Grokka, to help improve everyone's wellness using an app. The wellness industry, which includes apps, is now worth over $1.5 trillion and growing at a rate of up to 10% annually. Isabelle emphasized that the podcast will explore workplace trends, big ideas, and debunk meaningless thought leadership, providing insights into what truly works and what doesn't. The episode serves as a reminder that even when faced with challenges, it's possible to make significant changes to improve one's life and contribute to a growing industry.
Companies invest in wellness apps and programs for employees during pandemic: Wellness apps and programs bring relief to employees during pandemic, reducing sickness and turnover for companies, and have become more popular with group classes and virtual workouts.
The pandemic has accelerated the trend of companies investing in wellness apps and programs to help their employees cope with burnout and find inner peace. These investments not only benefit employees by providing them with tools to manage stress and improve mental health, but they also yield significant returns for companies through reduced sickness and turnover. Prior to the pandemic, the boom in wellness apps was driven by individuals' desire for a convenient and accessible solution to manage their well-being. Now, with the added need for connection during lockdowns, group classes and virtual workouts have become popular. Lorna Crocker's clients and staff have found relief in yoga, meditation, and better sleep advice, and companies like SurveyMonkey have responded by scheduling group workouts over Zoom. In her book "It's Personal," Emma Jacobs further explores the business case for caring for staff and the positive impact it can have on both employees and employers.
Effective leadership reduces distress and burnout through active listening and company values alignment: Active listening and aligning company values with employee needs are crucial for reducing distress and burnout. Workload flexibility and prioritizing work-life balance are essential for genuine support.
Effective leadership in reducing distress and burnout involves active listening and alignment of company values with employee needs. Asking team members for their input and addressing their concerns is crucial, rather than assuming what they require. Companies, like Crocker, that prioritize physical, emotional, and social well-being through shared activities can foster a sense of connection and common purpose. However, the shift towards digital mental health support raises questions about the effectiveness of such measures in creating genuine connections. A survey of Feet readers revealed that workload was a significant contributor to burnout, and apps alone could not alleviate this issue. Companies need to provide workload flexibility and prioritize work-life balance to truly support their employees' well-being. Ultimately, the purpose of work goes beyond individual productivity and requires a collective focus on employees' well-being and the alignment of company values with their needs.
Creating a Sense of Purpose, Balance, and Belonging in the Workplace: Employers can foster purpose, balance, and belonging by enabling flexibility, promoting open communication, and valuing diversity. However, privacy should be respected in the process.
Creating a sense of purpose, balance, and belonging in the workplace is crucial for employee satisfaction and productivity. Purpose refers to employees feeling that their work matters and contributes to something bigger. Balance means reducing conflicts between personal and work life, achieved through flexible scheduling and remote work where possible. Belonging is fostering a sense of connection and inclusion by promoting open communication and valuing diversity. The pandemic has highlighted the importance of these elements as employees yearn for a sense of connection and normalcy. However, there is a need for a recalibration when it comes to the amount of personal information shared in the workplace. While understanding and empathy are important, there should be mutual trust and respect for privacy. Employers can create a sense of purpose and belonging by enabling flexibility, promoting open communication, and allowing employees to feel heard and seen.
Impact of Technology on Work-Life Balance and Relationships: Technology offers convenience and quality but can lead to addiction and isolation, disrupting work-life balance and relationships. Structural changes in the workplace and balanced use of apps are crucial in preventing burnout.
While technology, such as wellness apps, can offer benefits in terms of convenience and quality, it also poses challenges in terms of addiction and isolation. Lorna's long experience in tech highlights the profound impact of living publicly and online for extended periods. The addictive nature of smartphones and social media can lead to late-night email checking or excessive use of apps, potentially disrupting work-life balance and relationships. While apps can provide a benchmark of quality and offer flexibility, they may also encourage solitary activities and detract from opportunities to connect with others in person. Ultimately, structural changes in the workplace, such as greater flexibility and support from managers, are crucial in preventing burnout. Apps can be a helpful supplement, but they should not be relied upon as the sole solution.
Investing in mental health in the workplace leads to significant returns: Companies prioritizing mental health initiatives can see reduced absenteeism, increased productivity, and improved morale. Open communication, flexible work arrangements, and access to resources are crucial for creating a mentally healthy workplace culture.
Investing in mental health in the workplace can lead to significant returns. According to the research we discussed on today's episode of Working It from the Financial Times, companies that prioritize mental health initiatives can see reduced absenteeism, increased productivity, and improved employee morale. Lorna Hagen, author of "The Mental Health At Work Book," shared her insights on the importance of creating a mentally healthy workplace culture, including open communication, flexible work arrangements, and access to mental health resources. This is especially crucial in today's fast-changing world, where work demands can be high and stress levels can be even higher. We'll include links to the research we cited and a link to Lorna's book in the show notes. If you have any questions or comments, feel free to reach out to us at working@hedt.com or find me on Twitter and Instagram @Isobelbaric. A big thank you to our team, including producer Anna Sinfield, executive producer Joe Wheeler, researcher Pippa Smith, and editorial direction from the FT's Rene Kaplan. Stay tuned for more insights on navigating the changing world of work.
