Linked – Attaining Work-Life Balance in an Era of Burnout
Clear, realistic expectations. Clearly defined roles. Open communication. Fair treatment.
This shouldn’t be that difficult, and yet here we are.
-
-
Employee Wellness Plans Are Likely Making No Difference
o here’s an app, but your manager is still going to expect you to answer emails 24×7, customers will be given your cell phone number to reach you whenever, and you’ll be expected to produce 8 hours of work while also attending 4-5 hours of meetings every day. All while not making enough money to pay for childcare or pay off the loans you took to get the degree that was required to get the job in the first place.
Gee, I wonder why that yoga class isn’t helping.
-
-
Don’t Just Work – Get a Hobby
In other words, I’m more than simply a worker. I’m more than a cog in the capitalist system that pays me for my labor. We all are, but we don’t always act like it, and I suspect that Helen is correct in her assumption that part of the reason is that we have prioritized work so far above and beyond the rest of our lives that we don’t have anything else to do.
That’s not a recipe for a healthy and balanced life.
-
Building a Culture that Supports Mental Health By Creating Opportunities to be Kind
As I said, I’ve seen this same research. More than once. I’ve talked about it here and here, and probably a few other times as well. On the individual level, acts of kindness toward others are beneficial for not only the receiver but the giver. As a peer, I can do what I can to give to my coworkers, but what does it look like to have a culture that encourages, rewards, and maybe even expects that kind of behavior?
-
Linked – “Burnout is a relationship problem”: A conversation with Michael Leiter
Trust is going to have to be hard-earned in the tech industry after the last year. That’s a shame because figuring out how to not burn out employees is going to take everyone working together.
