How Can You Support Workers Who Are Struggling Right Now? with Peggy Kern

Apr 2, 2020

In this discussion, Dr. Peggy Kern, an Associate Professor at the University of Melbourne, dives into the pressing issue of worker well-being amid crises like COVID-19. She shares her latest research on how workplaces can effectively support employees facing anxiety and economic downturns. Notably, she explores why some individuals thrive despite their struggles and offers practical strategies for fostering resilience. Peggy emphasizes the importance of compassion, psychological safety, and open conversations about challenges to enhance workplace satisfaction.

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Intro

00:00 • 2min

Thriving in Struggle: Workplace Well-Being

02:16 • 7min

Navigating Anxiety in the Workplace

09:10 • 19min

Compassion and Kindness in Times of Struggle

28:07 • 2min

Embracing Hope and Resilience Through Storytelling

30:13 • 2min

Dr. Peggy Kern is an associate professor at the Centre for Positive Psychology at the University of Melbourne’s graduate school of education. Peggy’s research is collaborative in nature and draws on a variety of methodologies to examine questions around who thrives in life and why. Including understanding and measuring healthy functioning, identifying individual and social factors impacting life trajectories and systems informed approaches to wellbeing. She’s published three books and over 85 peer-reviewed articles and chapters.

In this week’s podcast, we explore the impact COVID-19 and the economic downturn is having on workers’ wellbeing and performance, and what leaders and workplaces can be doing to support them.

Connect with Peggy Kern:

The Wellbeing Lab

You’ll Learn:

[02:45] - Peggy shares her latest research findings on how workplaces can help workers to care for their wellbeing.
[11:03] - Peggy explains what research over the last two weeks has found about the impact of COVID-19 and the sudden economic downturn is having on workers' wellbeing and performance.
[15:28] - Peggy provides insights into why some workers are thriving even though they are experiencing high levels of worry and anxiety at the moment.
[18:19] - Peggy offers tips to help workers thrive even in the face of struggle and how this may shift over time.
[22:28] - Peggy explains why as workers grieve through the changes that are happening that workplaces and leaders can make it ok to talk about the struggles they are experiencing.
[24:04] - Peggy offers guidance for HR teams are why to focus their resources and efforts during this unpredictable time to support workers’ wellbeing.
[27:25] - Peggy enters the lightning round

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Until next time, take care! Thank you, Peggy!