Why Workplace Well-Being Programs Don't Achieve Better Outcomes

> Most mental health solutions offered in the workplace are either employee assistance programs (EAPs), which offer short-term counseling or phone access to a helpline, or preventative tech solutions, like mindfulness apps. These low-touch solutions have minimal engagement.

These are all I've seen at the places I've worked, and I have never heard of anybody actually using them (although I'm sure many who do simply never mention it). I don't use them on two counts: I think they're without value, and they feel too much like my employer further encroaching on my life. My employer already directs more than a third of it. I jealously guard the rest.

They aren't effective because truly being effective was not the goal.

It's about having a program that's easy to scale, low maintenance and cost. Whilst it seems at least good enough.

McMindfullness era has made things cheaper, but also diluted products no longer be properly effective.

They're treating symptoms not root causes.

The root cause is ultimately coercion, sure shit leaders and environmental stressors factor in but they're downstream if the fact that most people wouldn't show up to work if they could afford not to.

I wouldn't trust an employee wellness program to meaningfully address the mental health needs of employees or for any information an employee shared under such a program to stay private and never be used against the employee. In the end, no matter what third party an employer pays to provide "wellness" services, that third party works for the employer and their interests. I wouldn't trust whatever random third party they hired to keep my data safe from others either.

If you need mental health services, just see your actual doctor and leave your employer and whatever random company they hire out of it.

No amount of work-shopping and HR platitudes is going to counteract the effect of toxic managers.

> "carewashing — superficial initiatives that workers may perceive as failing to tackle root causes."

we're going to continue to underpay you and over-work you, but here's a wellness course on 5 minutes breathing exercises. just don't let it affect your availability.

company wellness is an acknowledgement that they know they're f--king you. imo. a kind of corpo pseudo-guilt.