The Changing Work Environment

New norms surrounding flexible hours and locations that support hybrid work are in discussion. Companies focus more on creative productivity than how many hours a person puts in (yet many companies have software that tracks hours.) Healthy boundaries, work-life balance and sensible workloads are in focus and firms that overwork their workforce are in disapproval. Organizations are investing in strategic practices to reduce burnout. Many companies provide employee assistance programs (EAP) offering complimentary in-person or digital therapy. Organizations do not just see these changes as an HR benefit but strive to embed mental health in the company culture. Managers are asked to be part of psychological safety and emotional intelligence training to spot burnout. Normalizing dialogues about the topics of therapy, mental illness and neurodiversity are encouraged. Stress level check-ins and wearable biofeedback tools tied to Human Resources departments are used to take the temperature of employee stress. To mitigate workplace stress companies even create restorative places, such as quiet rooms, in their facility sites.

2024 Workforce Trends

United States companies have experienced tens of thousands of lost jobs in markets from Wall Street to the travel, tech and media industries, despite experts reporting a strong economy. The cause of numerous job cuts may relate to pandemic over-hiring or the need to reduce costs due to high interest rates. Surplus positions are eliminated to optimize the workforce when businesses restructure. Firms in declining industries, such as tobacco, manufacturing and apparel, trim to survive. Technological changes intended to improve company efficiency, including the investment of AI, are replacing human workers. International arenas that bring global rivalry create workforce reduction related to the changing market. In order to cut costs, in-house employees may oftentimes lose their jobs to outsourcing.

On Creative Problem Solving

“The mind does most of its best thinking when we aren't there.
The answers are there in the morning.”
– Alain de Botton

What is Default Mode Network (DMN)? DMN is an empirically supported phenomena when one develops their best ideas during times in which they are otherwise mentally unoccupied. Examples may be when in the shower, walking your dog or raking fall leaves. Some may term this daydreaming, an activity we engage in almost 50% of time.

Fitting Work into your Life

We know work can be taxing in two ways:
Time Pressure – The perception one has of uncompleted tasks and that
time is running out to accomplish those responsibilities.
Emotional Labor – The management of one's emotions in order to present oneself and interact with other people in a certain way while doing a job. An example of emotional labor may be working daily with customers and coworkers, while making a good effort to appear cheerful and friendly, can be especially draining when one is under time pressure on tasks.