As organizations scramble to respond to the rampant stress, burnout, and mental health crises exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic, many corporate wellness programs have focused on supporting self-care — gym memberships, meditation apps, or even paid time off. As researchers who study employee well-being, resilience, and psychological health, we applaud the genuine concern. However, we are also increasingly concerned that the emphasis on self-care may undermine, rather than support, employee wellness.
Stop Framing Wellness Programs Around Self-Care
Individual distress is a collective problem.
April 04, 2022
Summary.
Most workplace wellness programs focus on individual perks. But is this focus really working — particularly after the disconnect of the past two-plus years of the pandemic? The authors argue that self-care is no longer enough; instead, leaders should focus on team members taking care of each other. This requires a new approach to managing stress and conflict, framing adversity as a collective and implementing “relational pauses” to talk through difficult emotions related to work. By “struggling together,” employees will improve their well-being, persistence and resilience, communication and knowledge sharing, and coordination and systems thinking.
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New!
HBR Learning
Stress Management Course
Accelerate your career with Harvard ManageMentor®. HBR Learning’s online leadership training helps you hone your skills with courses like Stress Management. Earn badges to share on LinkedIn and your resume. Access more than 40 courses trusted by Fortune 500 companies.
How to build resilience at work.