Well Done

During the pandemic, businesses small and large scrambled to institute or bolster wellness programs to support employees' mental health, but now evidence of their efficacy is inconclusive at best

- Liza Agrba

Oxford University researchers recently surveyed nearly 50,000 employees about corporate-provided mindfulness seminars, online coaching and other wellness initiatives. The results? People who participated in these programs were no better off compared to those who didn't. Meanwhile, employee burnout is a growing issue, with approximately two-thirds of workers reporting symptoms and businesses noticing consequent effects on productivity and talent retention. What can a forward-thinking leader do beyond subsidizing subscriptions to yet another meditation app? Ruth Goudie, president of PR agency 1Milk2Sugars, and Joe O'Connor, CEO of Work Time Reduction, weigh in on what wellness actually looks like in the modern workplace.

JOE O’CONNOR: Wellness benefits offered at work are somewhat akin to Nero fiddling while Rome goes up in flames. We have a major burnout epidemic in modern workplaces, and the solutions need to be systemic and structural, addressing root causes rather than ticking boxes. Mindfulness workshops and meditation apps are nice to have, but on their own—without fundamentals in place that ensure workers are competitively paid, well rested and engaged—they’re toothless.