Best of TLNT: Top 5 Wellbeing Stories of 2020

Full disclosure: I’m skeptical of most corporate wellbeing efforts. Gym discounts, meditation apps, FitBits, nutritional coaching, and the myriad other bells and whistles that companies offer workers are nice. But they’re also often distractions from real problems. They’re also weak attempts to solve those problems, which include discrimination, pay inequity, poor performance management frameworks, crappy leadership, and other issues that erode the employee experience.

I’m not saying that wellness, wellbeing, or whatever you want to call it is not important. Of course it is. Rather, I’m saying that companies would be far better off investing time and resources into solving deeper problems over which they have tangible control.

In other words, worry about your organization’s compensation philosophy (do you have one ?) before you start worrying about your workers’ health.

Oh, and stop pretending that you’re worried about people’s health for any reason other than its impact on your bottom line.

I’ll step off my soapbox so that you can check out TLNT’s best wellbeing stories from 2020.

The Persistence of the Mental Health Stigma at Work

No, Flexibility Is Not a Caregiving Benefit

You’re an Employer, Not a Psychologist

5 Reasons Your Wellness Program Is Failing (And How to Fix It)

Leading HR in a Crisis: The Importance of Gauging Employee Well-being