Today’s podcast guest shared a startling statistic: we spend a whopping 82,000 hours of our lives at work. While many of us are great at prioritising our physical health outside the office - going for runs, eating well, walking in nature - we often forget about our physical wellbeing in the place where we spend most of our waking hours – especially if we’re desk-bound. It's a bit of a disconnect and it could be harmful in the long run. In this episode, we’re joined by Agnes Lisowska Masson from Logitech. Agnes is an expert in human-computer interaction, working in the lab to discover what really works.  We explore how to make our workspaces work for us, not against us, and we look at how small changes in our daily routines can make a big difference. No matter where you're working - from home, in a shared office space, or in a traditional office setting - this episode is packed with useful tips to help you work smarter and create a happy desk space that will boost your wellbeing.   Share your thoughts: We'd love to hear from you! Leave a review and let us know what you enjoyed most about this episode.   Get more: For episode chapters, transcript, highlights, and key takeaways, head to rowwellbeing.com/podcast   Be a champion for change in your workplace: Join ROW - together, we can break burnout culture for good.

Psychosocial safety is the latest buzzword in health, safety, and wellbeing circles, and for a good reason. Australia has led the charge in bringing psychosocial hazards into the spotlight, sparking important conversations about why every business must address them. But when it comes to understanding what psychosocial hazards are, and how to manage them, things can get confusing. There’s a lot of jargon and a lot to get your head around. So, how do big organisations handle this? Today, we’ll explore a case study from the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) Waka Kotahi, looking at how they structured their approach to psychosocial hazards. Our guests are Shelley Easton and Ryan Young from NZTA Waka Kotahi, who will walk us through how their organisation used ISO 45003 as a framework. They’ll share how they secured senior leader buy-in, implemented effective controls, and set up systems to continuously monitor their impact. It’s all about making real, meaningful progress - because perfect isn’t the goal. If you’re a wellbeing champion, HR professional, or health and safety manager, you’ll want to stick around for this one. There’s so much to learn from Waka Kotahi’s experience and plenty of practical takeaways to bring back to your workplace.   Share your thoughts: We'd love to hear from you! Leave a review and let us know what you enjoyed most about this episode.   Get more: For episode chapters, transcript, highlights, and key takeaways, head to rowwellbeing.com/podcast   Be a champion for change in your workplace: Join ROW - together, we can break burnout culture for good.

Suzi McAlpine, an executive leadership coach and author, shares her insights on fostering psychological safety in the workplace. She discusses how trust and vulnerability can transform team dynamics and enhance well-being. Listeners will learn how to identify signs of low psychological safety and the importance of creating a feedback culture. Suzi also emphasizes the power of emotional openness in leadership, providing practical strategies for continuous feedback and nurturing an environment where everyone feels safe to share their ideas and concerns.

Sleep is something we all do, and yet it’s a bit of a mystery. How much do we really need? What happens when we sleep? And why is it sometimes so hard to achieve, no matter how hard we try? These questions affect millions of people worldwide, impacting their health, life satisfaction, and productivity.  In this episode, we explore sleep with Bernice Tuffery, a sleep health advocate and author of "Sleep Easy". Bernice's journey from struggling with insomnia to becoming a sleep health coach is both inspiring and full of useful insights for anyone looking to improve their sleep. We also discuss how workplaces can support their employees' sleep health, creating a more productive and healthier work environment. Whether you're a night owl, an early bird, or somewhere in between, this episode is packed with practical strategies and interesting insights to help you rethink your approach to sleep.    Share your thoughts: We'd love to hear from you! Leave a review and let us know what you enjoyed most about this episode.   Get more: For episode chapters, transcript, highlights, and key takeaways, head to rowwellbeing.com/podcast   Be a champion for change in your workplace: Join ROW - together, we can break burnout culture for good.

In this episode, we’re exploring the profound impact trauma can have on people, teams, and organisations, and how workplaces can better respond and be more trauma-aware. We’ll unpack the difference between stress and trauma, and look at how events like the COVID-19 pandemic have reshaped our sense of wellbeing. To better understand the effects of trauma, we’re joined by Ross Anderson, an Australian-based registered psychologist, executive coach, and leadership development expert. Ross has led complex change initiatives across sectors like Defence, Health, and Utilities, and formerly served as Director of MBS Mt Eliza executive education. He brings extensive experience in trauma management, having served as Director of the National Trauma Clinic. Ross has been on the ground responding to critical incidents like the Queen St., Hoddle Street, and Port Arthur massacres, workplace injuries, and fatalities. His deep understanding offers invaluable insights into creating trauma-informed workplaces. Here’s what you’ll take away from this episode: A better understanding of what trauma is and how it’s different from ongoing stress Key signs to look for in team members who may be experiencing trauma How different generations might respond to trauma The link between burnout and trauma—and why it’s important to recognize Practical steps for fostering a trauma-informed workplace Whether you’re a leader, an HR professional, or simply looking to understand trauma in the workplace better, this episode provides valuable tools and insights to help you create a healthier, more supportive environment for your team, even during the toughest of times.   If anything in this episode feels a bit close to the bone, we encourage you to reach out to someone you trust or your national helpline.    Share your thoughts: We'd love to hear from you! Leave a review and let us know what you enjoyed most about this episode.   Get more: For episode chapters, transcript, highlights, and key takeaways, head to rowwellbeing.com/podcast   Be a champion for change in your workplace: Join ROW - together, we can break burnout culture for good.

**We've had a name change! This podcast is now called Breaking Burnout Culture. It was Workplace Wellbeing, but we've made the change to better reflect our mission. It's still all the content you know and love.** In this episode, ROW Alumni Chris Hewitt chats with Dean Yates, author of Line in the Sand. Dean Yates was the ideal warzone correspondent: courageous, compassionate, and dedicated. After years of facing the worst, including covering the Bali bombings and the Boxing Day tsunami, one final incident undid him. In this gritty and compelling interview, Dean shares his lived experience of trauma, PTSD, moral injury and his three admissions to the Ward 17 psych unit in Melbourne, Australia. There are lessons we can all learn from Dean’s story, and obvious actions for workplaces to ensure they protect their people.   If anything in this episode feels a bit close to the bone, we encourage you to reach out to someone you trust or your national helpline.    Share your thoughts: We'd love to hear from you! Leave a review and let us know what you enjoyed most about this episode.   Get more: For episode chapters, transcript, highlights, and key takeaways, head to rowwellbeing.com/podcast   Be a champion for change in your workplace: Join ROW - together, we can break burnout culture for good.

Humans have been sharing stories since the dawn of time to help us make sense of the world around us and to influence our thinking. Storytelling is one of the most powerful tools in a wellbeing leader’s toolkit. With it, you can normalise conversations about mental health and wellbeing, you can destigmatise, you can challenge and change beliefs and you can foster psychological safety. In this episode, we’re delighted to be joined by Michelle Ortega, wellbeing advocate and Communications and Relationship Manager at Fonterra Brands. Join us as we explore how you can use storytelling to create an empathetic, psychologically safe work environment and shape a culture that supports mental health. Michelle is a passionate advocate for mental health, using her own lived experience to reduce stigma and drive positive mental health conversations in the workplace. Because of her dedication to raising awareness of mental health at Fonterra through openly sharing her own story, Michelle took home the PWC New Zealand Lived Experience Leadership Award at the 2021 HeadFit Awards. Michelle has also presented and has been a keynote speaker at a number of national and international conferences. Most recently at the HR ANZ Summit in the Gold Coast, where she received a standing ovation for her presentation on The Power of Storytelling in Turning the Tide on Mental Health Awareness in Workplaces.   If anything in this episode feels a bit close to the bone, we encourage you to reach out to someone you trust or your national helpline.    Share your thoughts: We'd love to hear from you! Leave a review and let us know what you enjoyed most about this episode.   Be a champion for change in your workplace: Join ROW - get started for free today!

Hugh Goddard, Managing Director at Pipeline & Civil, champions a people-first culture in construction. He discusses how senior leaders can drive a wellbeing-focused environment and the importance of their visibility in enhancing team dynamics. The conversation touches on the mental health challenges within the industry, urging leaders to normalize discussions around these issues. Goddard shares personal experiences and strategies to align employee wellbeing with organizational success, advocating for psychological safety and open dialogue throughout the workplace.

While financial wellbeing has always been important, the current economic climate and cost of living crisis are causing stress and pressure for people across the board. We explore some of the key financial wellbeing issues people face, shedding light on the various challenges people encounter when it comes to managing their finances effectively. We also examine how societal conditioning influences our relationship with money, impacting our overall wellbeing in ways we might not even realise. Finally, we'll also discuss actionable strategies and insights on what workplaces can do to foster and support better financial health for their people, ensuring employees feel empowered and equipped to navigate through these turbulent times with confidence. So, make sure you have a pen and paper handy, and get ready for an insight-packed conversation with practical tips for enhancing employee (and maybe your own?) financial wellbeing!   Share your thoughts: We'd love to hear from you! Leave a review and let us know what you enjoyed most about this episode.   Be a champion for change in your workplace. Join ROW - get started for free today!

Jessica Hayes, former People Experience Lead at Auckland Transport, shares her expertise on developing impactful wellbeing strategies in complex environments. She discusses innovative initiatives that have garnered awards and the challenges of navigating employee wellness during leadership changes and the pandemic. The conversation highlights the 'me, we, us' communication framework and effective practices like meeting-free blocks. Hayes emphasizes human-centered design and collaboration as keys to fostering a supportive workplace that adapts to the evolving needs of employees.