Reimagining HR for Better Well-Being and Performance

Employee mental health is a pressing issue in today's workforce, with burnout and workplace stress negatively impacting personal relationships and costing billions in healthcare. Behavioral science offers insights and strategies to support mental health, but organizations need to rethink their HR and Benefits functions to fully leverage these insights. The Benefits function, rooted in a paternalistic tradition, focuses on health plans and employee assistance programs (EAPs) but struggles to change the perception that these programs are only for those in bad shape. On the other hand, the Learning and Development (LD) function, influenced by industrial engineering, prioritizes performance and productivity but often ignores the human aspects of work. The siloed nature of these functions hinders a holistic approach to employee thriving. To overcome these challenges, organizations need to bridge the gap between Benefits and LD, collaborate at the highest levels of leadership, and prioritize primary prevention. By investing in employee thriving, organizations can improve performance, retention, and healthcare costs in the long run.