The promise and pitfalls of employee well-being initiatives

Creating meaningful well-being benefits for employees requires effective interventions, thoughtful conversations, and accurate impact tracking, says IMD Dean of Research Anand Narasimhan, who shares his insights on fostering a resilient, empowered, and engaged workforce.

Soul-washing, when companies engage in well-being initiatives without really believing in them, is a good reason to be skeptical when it comes to these interventions. You have to negotiate for yourself where the boundary is between you personally and the organization you work for.

When was the last time you were asked about your well-being at work? And more importantly, when was the last time you felt your well-being was considered as an important contribution to your work?

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, employee burnout is something we are increasingly seeing in companies, particularly as the culture of an organization changes. How jobs are designed, and the kind of leadership that plays out, has a bearing on whether employees are flourishing or languishing.

The World Health Organization estimates that 12 billion working days are lost globally to depression and anxiety at the cost of $1tn per year in lost productivity. To offset this, companies are offering a glittering array of well-being support schemes like gym memberships, laundry services, free fruit at the office, or one-off mindfulness and breathing workshops. Yet these initiatives could do little to reduce your stress. So, why bother? And how can organizations structure well-being…

Leading in Turbulent Times

Well-being

The promise and pitfalls of employee well-being initiatives

Creating meaningful well-being benefits for employees requires effective interventions, thoughtful conversations, and accurate impact tracking, says IMD Dean of Research Anand Narasimhan, who shares his insights on fostering a resilient, empowered, and engaged workforce.

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Leading in Turbulent Times

Well-being

The promise and pitfalls of employee well-being initiatives

Creating meaningful well-being benefits for employees requires effective interventions, thoughtful conversations, and accurate impact tracking, says IMD Dean of Research Anand Narasimhan, who shares his insights on fostering a resilient, empowered, and engaged workforce.

The promise and pitfalls of employee well-being initiatives

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