Gen Z workers reject traditional leadership for mental health, autonomy

The prestige and pay of manager positions are enticing fewer workers, some of whom are turned off by the personal and professional downsides of leadership roles and instead are prioritizing free time, flexibility and mental health. As shared in this article from WorldatWork’s Workspan Daily, the situation highlights both a concern and an opportunity. https://lnkd.in/g6DYtgmD #WorldatWork #WorkspanDaily #LearningAndDevelopment #Workforce #Leadership #TotalRewards #TR #HumanResources #HR #HRStrategy

A new trend is reshaping the workplace: fewer workers want to manage. From protecting mental health to prioritizing autonomy and personal growth, employees are rethinking what success looks like — and it’s pushing HR to evolve. #FutureOfWork #Leadership #HRTrends #CareerDevelopment #GenZ #WorkplaceWellbeing #ThinkAmericanNews Photo: Adobe Stock/aFotostock https://lnkd.in/eE_2Cwu7

💼 As an HR Professional: Understanding Work Stress Work stress isn’t just an individual issue — it’s an organizational reality that impacts performance, engagement, and retention. As HR leaders, it’s our role to recognize, address, and prevent workplace stress before it turns into burnout. Here’s what truly makes a difference 👇 ✅ Understand the causes: workload, poor communication, lack of clarity, and limited growth. 👀 Spot the signs: absenteeism, irritability, low motivation, or reduced productivity. 🤝 Build a healthy culture: open dialogue, flexible work options, recognition, and trust. ❤️ Support employees: mental health programs, regular check-ins, and realistic expectations. 🌱 Lead by example: show balance, empathy, and transparency — it sets the tone for others. Creating a culture that prioritizes mental well-being isn’t just good HR — it’s smart leadership. 💪 #HRLeadership #WorkStress #EmployeeWellbeing #WorkCulture #MentalHealthAtWork #PeopleFirst #HRInsights

“Ghostworking” is on the rise, and it’s costing more than lost productivity. According to HR Executive, people who feel disconnected from meaning or recognition at work are increasingly doing the bare minimum to get by. The issue isn’t laziness. Rather, it’s a lack of purpose. Here’s how leaders can address it: 1. Recognize effort often. Frequent, specific recognition keeps motivation alive. Connect work to impact. Show people how their contributions matter. 2. Listen early. Burnout and disengagement leave clues long before they become performance issues. 3. Build trust, not surveillance. People don’t re-engage because they’re watched—they re-engage because they’re valued. At HiBob, we believe recognition is more than a thank-you. It’s how companies turn busy work into meaningful work.

New UMD research reveals that too much support after failure can actually hurt employee recovery and engagement. Here’s why it happens. Read the Latest Full News - https://lnkd.in/gJ34c3hk #HRTechEdge #WorkplacePsychology #EmployeeEngagement #WorkplaceCulture #Leadership #PeopleManagement #TeamDynamics #HRResearch #WorkplaceWellbeing #EmployeeExperience #ManagementInsights #FutureOfWork

From Gallup: Disengagement is costing the U.S. economy an estimated $2 trillion in lost productivity every year, with global engagement slipping to just 21% — the lowest levels seen since the pandemic. The cost of this decline in engagement often goes unnoticed. Employees remain in their jobs but feel drained, detached and are less effective — a pattern some call “quiet cracking,” a play on the “quiet quitting” trend. Burnout does more than trigger resignations; Gallup’s research shows it undermines performance and corrodes culture long before people leave. Leaders who want to reverse these losses must confront burnout at its root. https://lnkd.in/g8Ku3-Tn …more How to Prevent Employee Burnout What Is Workplace Burnout? What Are the Symptoms and Signs of Burnout? What Causes Burnout? Why Do You Need to Worry About Employee Burnout? How to Overcome Burnout How to Help Employees Fight Burnout What Can Managers Do to Help Prevent Employee Burnout? How Can Companies Reduce Employee Stress at Work? Why Is Work-Life Balance Important? The Negative Effects of Micromanagement Reverse burnout with active engagement in leadership and management...CLICK HERE:https://lnkd.in/gqN2hGNn to get your Executive Leadership Score

Recent research indicate that job seekers are increasingly prioritising a company's psychosocial culture, the aspects of the work environment that affect psychological health as a key decision about whether they should join a new organisation. To overlook this factor can be critical because a poor cultural fit or negative environment is a leading driver of early employee turnover. According to one study, a poor corporate culture is the strongest predictor of attrition and is ten times more powerful than compensation in driving employee departures. The data shows that around 30% of all new employees leave their job within the first year, often due to cultural misalignment, poor onboarding, or a lack of leader support. This early exit rate signals that many companies are failing to manage fundamental psychosocial hazards like excessive workload, poor leadership, and internal conflict. To prevent becoming part of that statistic, it is strongly suggested potential employees become skilled investigators. Go beyond the company website's polished image and scrutinise employee reviews on platforms like Glassdoor, searching for recurring themes regarding work-life balance and management style. Reach out to current and past employees on platforms like LinkedIn for candid, firsthand account. Equally importantly, during the interview process, ask targeted, culture-focused questions such as “How would you describe the leadership style in this organisation”, “What sort of things does the company do to support employee wellbeing“ or "Can you tell me some examples about how team conflicts are resolved?" Do whatever it takes to ensure that the environment you are about to enter to conducive to helping you thrive, not slowly sucking the happiness and motivation from you until you wish you’d never joined. #rewardingwork #psychosocial #psychologicalsafety

You ever notice how HR was built to support people… but nobody really supports HR? I was talking to an HR leader recently who said, “Everyone expects us to have the answers—but nobody asks how we’re doing.” That one hit me. Because the truth is, HR carries a heavy load. They’re the first to know when someone’s struggling, when a team’s burning out, when morale’s in the tank. They’re managing emotions, expectations, and energy all day long—while trying to keep their own together. And honestly, that kind of emotional weight adds up. Here’s what I’ve seen after years of working with teams and leaders under pressure: - You can’t lead people out of burnout if you’re sitting in it yourself. - Your energy is data—it’s telling you what needs attention. - Wellness programs only work if the people leading them have room to breathe too. HR doesn’t need another “motivational” talk. They need margin. They need space to reset before they’re expected to fix everyone else. That’s where the next level of leadership begins. Not in another meeting, but in the moments you give yourself to pause and recharge. If you work in HR or leadership, what’s one thing you wish people understood about how much weight you carry every week? #HRCommunity #LeadershipDevelopment #WorkplaceWellbeing #TheRechargeMethod #PivotTraining

📣 The Power of Professional Boundaries Boundaries aren’t barriers—they’re bridges to better work. In HR, we see it all the time: professionals who thrive are the ones who know how to protect their time, energy, and focus. Setting boundaries isn’t selfish—it’s strategic. Here’s how to start: 🕒 Respect your time – Block off focus hours and honor them. 📧 Communicate clearly – Let others know when you're available (and when you're not). 🙅♀️ Say no (respectfully) – Not every request needs a yes. 🧠 Know your limits – Burnout helps no one. 🤝 Model it for others – Healthy boundaries create healthy teams. At Red Envelope Consulting, we help professionals and leaders build workplaces where boundaries are respected—and productivity thrives. www.redenvelope.consulting #ThursdayThoughts #WorkplaceWellness #ProfessionalBoundaries #HRInsights #RedEnvelopeConsulting #CareerTips #Boundaries #HR #IndyHR #MidwestHR #HumanResources #HumanResourcesConsulting #HRConsulting #Indiana #Indianapolis #Talent #Consulting #ProfessionalTips #WorkplaceCulture #Culture

Employees who believe their work has real meaning are significantly less likely to burn out—and much more likely to stay engaged and committed. This HR Dive article explores how meaning drives engagement, resilience, and long-term retention. #PurposeAtWork #EmployeeEngagement #BurnoutPrevention #TalentRetention https://lnkd.in/e9N6__EZ