According to the institute's research professor, Jari Hakanen, working life in Finland is facing challenges posed by four negative trends. Workloads have increased, resources have declined, expectations for the future have become more uncertain, and at the same time, workers are increasingly getting burnt out.
The people carrying the heaviest weight are often the ones least likely to speak up. They're balancing Q1 deliverables with questions that never make it to a staff meeting: Does anyone see what's happening? Will anyone acknowledge it? If I speak up, what does it cost me?
In a small company, culture moves faster than policy. When new technology enters daily life, it doesn't wait for HR manuals to catch up. Employees bring habits into the workplace: how they communicate, how they vent, how they cope with stress, and how they use personal devices during breaks. AI companionship sits right at the intersection of mental health, privacy, and brand trust. And those are not abstract issues for SMEs:
Fulfillment isn't about chasing happiness, which is a fleeting feeling. What is fulfillment? Fulfillment means having a deep sense of inner peace, alignment and a groundedness from doing what you intend to do in life. Fulfillment comes from feeling a sense of purpose and acting in alignment with your own personal values. People who are truly fulfilled do experience the full range of human emotions and experiences, including sadness and setbacks.
It wasn't until the 1930s that the idea of worker satisfaction entered the working world's psyche. Before then, the prevailing attitude was simple: "You work for us, we pay you." Worker dissatisfaction was the norm, and many industries rose and thrived on taking advantage of the working poor. It wasn't until the realization dawned that a healthy worker is a productive worker-thereby impacting the company's bottom line-that the focus on worker satisfaction began to gain traction through industrial psychology and early management theories that recognized the importance of employee well-being for productivity.
For years, public handwringing about the impact of social media on the minds and lives countless millions of teen users has dominated conversations about this increasingly prominent communications medium. Plenty of research suggests it can do real damage, and sites like Instagram have been forced to take steps that try to limit the harm the apps do. But it's not just teens using social media, and a new report explores its use at work and its impact on the productivity.
A new study from advisory firm KPMG found that 45% of workers surveyed reported feelings of loneliness in the workplace, and the majority would trade 20% in salary in exchange for working with close friends. And 99% of workers are interested in an AI chatbot that could become a close friend or trusted companion at work. There's a business case, too: Nearly 90% said friendship-enabling cultures are crucial for retention.
Workers are becoming increasingly overwhelmed by the "always on" culture at their jobs, and are calling for formal periods of "digital silence". That's according to research from Twilio, which found staff are pushing employers to allocate periods free from notifications and emails. The study, based on a survey of more than 1,200 UK-based workers, found nearly half (47%) are prioritizing protected times in their daily workflow that are free from distractions, email chains, and calls.
It's really easy in an environment of uncertainty to spend a lot of time and energy thinking about things that are outside of their control, but that's going to be a real detractor to your personal well-being.
While this policy has been formulated to revitalise the economy, business leaders and HR teams have to consider how it will be implemented and its impact on employees. By increasing the number of working days in the office, businesses may achieve higher productivity and efficiency initially, but it can lead to increased stress and burnout among employees.
Employees desire autonomy in deciding how and when to reduce sedentary behaviors while working from home. They seek organizational support for these initiatives and want to incorporate social interactions into their routines.
Celebrating Juneteenth symbolizes freedom and independence from a hard, dark history, providing an opportunity for businesses to engage their employees in a meaningful way.
Making work environments more accessible in London is now a priority for businesses, with significant changes to infrastructure and employment practices for inclusivity.
Dutch startup VitsAll, led by Sabine Bakkum, won a Dragons' Den competition, showcasing a unique approach to employee wellbeing that combines physical and mental health.
