The NYT Says Workplace Wellness Isn't Working. We Say Differently.

In light of the events of the past few years, there's been a lot of investment being made in employee wellness programs to improve the lives of workers in the United States. These programs include everything from mindfulness apps and financial coaching to resilience training. 

However, these efforts are now being called out for not making a difference in improving mental health. An interesting article in the New York Times, based on research from an Oxford professor, revealed that many of these well-known mental health programs at work don't help much. And even more shocking, some might even make things much worse.

The Current Workplace Landscape

To understand whether workplace wellness is having any kind of impact, we need to take stock of where of some factors that are impacting the current businesslandscape.

‍Gen Z's Preparedness: A survey highlights that 40% of business leaders believe Gen Z lacks readiness for the workforce, mainly criticizing their work ethic and communication skills. This perception leads to a reluctance to hire individuals from this generation.

Mandated Office Returns and Attrition: With 72% of companies enforcing office returns, 42% report unexpectedly high employee turnover, and nearly 29% face recruitment challenges.

Employee Burnout: A significant portion of North American employees, 36%, report experiencing burnout symptoms, indicating widespread stress and exhaustion.

Loneliness and Isolation: The Surgeon General's report points out the detrimental effects of loneliness and isolation on health, academic achievement, and work performance. Only 39% of U.S. adults feel a strong connection to others, impacting mental health and contributing to dropout rates among medical students.

Workplace Incivility: According to McKinsey, a majority of employees encounter rudeness at work, leading to decreased work effort, productivity, and overall quality of work, with 62% experiencing rudeness monthly.

The corporate wellness services industry has ballooned in recent years, with thousands of vendors competing for billions of dollars in revenue. Companies invest in these programs in hopes of saving money overall by improving worker health and productivity.

While all this is true, it doesn’t represent all organizations. Right now there is a massive push, taking place in real-time, to bring training and interventions that moves the needle towards everyday worker satisfaction.

The Rise of Coaching and Empathy in Leadership

Echoing the insights from the study, there's a growing consensus among life coaches and organizational leaders that true employee well-being is anchored in the foundational aspects of work life—such as fair pay, meaningful work, clear communication, and opportunities for growth and advancement. 

The shift towards core organizational practices, rather than superficial wellness programs, appears to be a more effective strategy for fostering a genuinely supportive and healthy workplace environment.

Coaching emerges as a powerful alternative, offering a more personalized and impactful approach to leadership and employee development. 

The success stories of companies like Walmart, which has invested in coaching for its managers, highlight the potential of coaching to enhance not only individual well-being but also organizational health. The focus on empathy, active listening, and a growth mindset as core competencies for leaders underscores a fundamental shift towards more humane and effective leadership practices.

More Resources:
The Soft Skills Every Leader Needs To Be Successful In Today's Marketplace
Dealing With Burnout and Stress: Real Solutions for Leaders
Using Coaching Skills As A Leader

The Way Forward: Human-Centered Approaches to Workplace Well-being

As life coaches, we are uniquely positioned to advocate for and implement strategies that prioritize the human element in the workplace. 

By facilitating a culture of empathy, open communication, and continuous learning, organizations can create environments where employees feel valued, understood, and supported. This not only enhances individual well-being but also drives collective success and innovation.

Coach training can help bring leadership skills to the forefront. Lumia's training program has notably enhanced the skills and personal growth of its alumni in several areas, according to a recent internal survey:

Better Listening Skills: A significant 93% of Lumia graduates report becoming better listeners, highlighting improvements in asking questions, actively listening, and offering encouragement. They've gained an awareness of the importance of not making assumptions about others.

Increased Confidence: Over 88% of alumni understand how coaching leads to success, with 87% recommending the Lumia coaching certification program. Additionally, 90% express confidence in their coaching abilities, noting improvements in communication, boundary setting, and personal self-assurance.

Welcoming Diversity: About 73% of our graduates feel more capable of working with people from diverse backgrounds, attributing this to the program's emphasis on understanding and non-judgmental listening.

Enhanced Self-Awareness: The program has also successfully increased self-awareness for 84% of its alumni, broadening their life perspectives and deepening their understanding of relational dynamics.

Lumia's coach training program has helped alumni achieve better communication, confidence, diversity acceptance, and self-awareness, equipping them with essential skills for both their professional and personal lives.

The findings from the New York Times article should serve as a wake-up call for organizations and life coaches alike to reevaluate and redesign wellness initiatives with a focus on meaningful, human-centered approaches. 

By embracing coaching and empathy as foundational elements of leadership and organizational culture, we can pave the way for a new era of workplace well-being that truly meets the needs of today's diverse and dynamic workforce. 

Interested in smashing the status quo as a coach? 

Coaching is a rapidly growing field that is continuously evolving – the opportunities are endless for new coaches. And even for seasoned coaches, there’s always more to discover. If you’ve not already earned your ICF accredited coach certification, there’s no better time than now to get started! Grounded in science, our program features authentic instructors, a robust curriculum, business instruction to prepare you for liftoff as an entrepreneur, and fellow students dedicated to becoming a collective force for good.

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