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Start Treating It Like One.","description":"Brain health isn't a personal side project, it's a business asset, says Alzheimer's Association Chief Programs and Mission Engagement Officer Katie Evans, who outlines four shifts leaders can make now.","slug":{"current":"brain-health-business-asset-leaders"},"isPodcast":null,"megaphoneLink":null,"articleAuthor":{"name":"Katie Evans","slug":{"current":"katie-evans"}},"byline":null,"publishDate":"2026-09-16","episodeImage":{"imageAltTag":null,"asset":null},"heroBackgroundColor":null,"heroImage":{"caption":null,"attribution":null,"altText":"Abstract illustration of brain","asset":{"id":"image-9b7c881c48342397780888d4ec9b206370f1a240-1200x600-jpg","url":"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/xcsyo6gw/production/9b7c881c48342397780888d4ec9b206370f1a240-1200x600.jpg"}},"id":"-be44f640-eda4-58a9-b4c8-94d77113b377","category":null,"editorialCategory":{"id":"-d974e953-201b-5fdb-bf81-e47d7c0a9574","title":"Health & Wellbeing","slug":{"current":"health-wellbeing"}},"podcastDescription":null,"podcastTranscript":null,"isSponsored":null,"_rawSponsorship":null,"_updatedAt":"2026-09-16T16:45:45Z","content":[{"_key":"85d768cc155e","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"93dfe67c05a20","_type":"span","marks":["6c203ca9ba90","em"],"text":"Katie Evans"},{"_key":"93dfe67c05a21","_type":"span","marks":["em"],"text":" is Chief Programs and Mission Engagement Officer of the Alzheimer’s Association, where her team oversees programs spanning brain health, early detection, diagnosis, treatment, and care and support."}],"markDefs":[{"_key":"6c203ca9ba90","_type":"link","href":"https://www.linkedin.com/in/katie-m-evans/"}],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"16d9fbb9311f","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"240956d75ca60","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"It was the middle of summer, the kind of hot day made for sitting beside a pool and doing absolutely nothing. Instead, my friend and I were talking about work."}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"3d3be1188912","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"7fa42cb35fa40","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"She is the CFO of a company, and between demanding jobs, children’s schedules, and life’s inevitable interruptions, we do not see each other as often as we would like. When we do, our conversations move quickly from family updates to the issues keeping us awake at night: organizational change, difficult decisions, team dynamics, and the relentless pressure to perform."}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"ca8cac69dfae","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"f712a6510f220","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Eventually, she asked the question I hear more and more from women our age: “What should I be doing for my brain?”"}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"21e9ae35791c","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"f94bff091a020","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"For years, when I told people where I worked, they responded with stories rooted in fear: "},{"_key":"f94bff091a021","_type":"span","marks":["em"],"text":"My grandmother had Alzheimer’s. I am more afraid of Alzheimer’s than any other disease."}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"f7d478fcc29f","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"91ecea802f350","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Those fears have not entirely disappeared. Alzheimer’s is a devastating disease, and today there is no cure. But the conversation is beginning to change. Increasingly, people are asking not only what they should fear, but what they can do."}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"547ea4842104","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"0e382383f9500","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"That is an important shift from fear to agency."}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"bfee2552a55e","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"0502dea9ce0d0","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"It is also an important shift for business leaders. Our brains are not separate from how we lead. Attention, judgment, creativity, memory, and the ability to navigate complexity are all functions of brain health. Yet most organizations protect nearly every business-critical asset more intentionally than they protect the cognitive capacity of their people."}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"d90aab63e037","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"8b1fa0bc760d0","_type":"span","marks":["6395599d4304"],"text":"Supporting brain health"},{"_key":"8b1fa0bc760d1","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" is a business strategy in itself."}],"markDefs":[{"_key":"6395599d4304","_type":"link","href":"https://chief.com/category/health-wellbeing"}],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"a302789db756","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"29aada8110b10","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"We Now Have Stronger Evidence That Action Matters"}],"markDefs":[],"style":"heading2"},{"_key":"c6b2bc6f2d0a","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"dad652b82a450","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"For years, we have known that many of the habits associated with better cardiovascular health are also associated with better brain health. Now we have compelling evidence showing what can happen when those behaviors are combined."}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"eac87dcbdbf4","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"7a955f81eab40","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"The Alzheimer’s Association U.S. Study to Protect Brain Health Through Lifestyle Intervention to Reduce Risk, known as "},{"_key":"7a955f81eab41","_type":"span","marks":["3bcb60662838"],"text":"U.S. POINTER"},{"_key":"7a955f81eab42","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":", was a two-year clinical trial involving more than 2,100 older adults at increased risk for cognitive decline. Participants followed lifestyle interventions addressing physical activity, nutrition, cognitive engagement, and heart health monitoring."}],"markDefs":[{"_key":"3bcb60662838","_type":"link","href":"https://www.alz.org/us-pointer"}],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"a9218812b527","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"feb4a62338520","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Both groups improved their cognition. Participants in the more structured program — which included greater support, accountability, and intensity — experienced even greater benefits. The improvements were seen regardless of sex, ethnicity, genetic risk, or heart health status."}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"455677a65ad5","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"450a746ab9a50","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"To be clear, we do not know whether or not it is possible to prevent Alzheimer’s because age, genetics, and other factors matter. Researchers are still looking for answers. But U.S. POINTER gives us something incredibly valuable: evidence that our daily actions can meaningfully support how our brains function as we age."}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"fe9109a2a451","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"b602d31dd6f20","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"For leaders, there is another lesson in the findings. Information alone is rarely enough. Structure, support, and accountability make a difference."}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"91b1688239c7","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"644b0e185d760","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"That is true for changing individual habits. It is also true for "},{"_key":"644b0e185d761","_type":"span","marks":["79d27f76a9fc"],"text":"changing workplace culture"},{"_key":"644b0e185d762","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":". It’s a big reason the Alzheimer’s Association is working to bring brain health strategies to the workplace through our "},{"_key":"644b0e185d763","_type":"span","marks":["33f5c0b9907b"],"text":"Brain Health At Work program"},{"_key":"644b0e185d764","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"."}],"markDefs":[{"_key":"79d27f76a9fc","_type":"link","href":"https://chief.com/articles/joy-allen-altimare-womens-health-leadership"},{"_key":"33f5c0b9907b","_type":"link","href":"https://www.alz.org/professionals/brain-health-at-work"}],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"84897e57b175","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"4853f92695e30","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Women’s Brain Health Belongs in the Leadership Conversation"}],"markDefs":[],"style":"heading2"},{"_key":"270a34b86554","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"0934533607a20","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"For women in their 40s and 50s, brain health is not an abstract concern reserved for later life. These are often the years when professional responsibilities are at their highest and "},{"_key":"0934533607a21","_type":"span","marks":["ea7cea5495ce"],"text":"personal responsibilities are multiplying"},{"_key":"0934533607a22","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"."}],"markDefs":[{"_key":"ea7cea5495ce","_type":"link","href":"https://chief.com/articles/meghan-joyce-delegate-mental-load-accountability"}],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"4aa45bd89fe4","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"797016e6166e0","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Women may be leading companies or major teams while raising children, supporting aging parents, managing chronic health conditions, and experiencing changes associated with perimenopause or "},{"_key":"797016e6166e1","_type":"span","marks":["3ed5296ab5a9"],"text":"menopause"},{"_key":"797016e6166e2","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":". "},{"_key":"797016e6166e3","_type":"span","marks":["052556e927a1"],"text":"According to the Alzheimer’s Association"},{"_key":"797016e6166e4","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":", many are also caregivers. More than 3 in 5 unpaid Alzheimer’s and dementia caregivers are women, and nearly 1 in 5 women caring for someone living with Alzheimer’s has had to leave the workforce because of caregiving demands."}],"markDefs":[{"_key":"3ed5296ab5a9","_type":"link","href":"https://chief.com/articles/menopause-transition-biology-ambition-collide"},{"_key":"052556e927a1","_type":"link","href":"https://alz.org/women"}],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"474d67fbe476","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"53cea7300d2a0","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"At the same time, women may experience changes in sleep, concentration, memory, or mental clarity and wonder whether they should disclose them, hide them, or simply work harder to compensate."}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"5d8c2bacf961","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"583b442358620","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Too often, the default is silence."}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"2f8a909d2531","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"529c679d68590","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"As leaders, we have a responsibility to create workplace cultures where a woman can say, “I have noticed a change in my cognitive health, and I want to address it” without fearing that her competence will immediately be questioned."}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"835172c49b60","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"1eddfb0423600","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"That does not mean diagnosing colleagues, treating every forgotten name as a warning sign or lowering expectations. For most people in their 40s and 50s, such changes are not dementia, or even a precursor to dementia. Brain health can be affected by sleep, stress, cardiovascular health, medications, "},{"_key":"1eddfb0423601","_type":"span","marks":["6fb603bbae6a"],"text":"hormonal changes"},{"_key":"1eddfb0423602","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":", depression, anxiety, and many other factors. Some are temporary, and some require medical attention."}],"markDefs":[{"_key":"6fb603bbae6a","_type":"link","href":"https://chief.com/articles/michelle-montville-alloy-health-menopause-leadership"}],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"f2aaa681d1a6","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"205e1538fe180","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Normalizing the conversation about cognitive health allows people to seek help earlier, make appropriate adjustments, and remain fully engaged in their work."}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"9ad50e7cff15","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"3715d96733680","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Start With Four Practical Shifts"}],"markDefs":[],"style":"heading2"},{"_key":"98937d4d69c6","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"378f9af89b910","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Women leaders do not need to become neuroscientists to advance brain health. We can begin by changing the questions we ask, the behaviors we model and the systems we create."}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"805714ffba5a","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"1940e45885200","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"1. Treat movement as essential to performance."}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"beb2f4fef27f","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"d4b4c47189ec0","_type":"span","marks":["20389f260fc3"],"text":"Physical activity"},{"_key":"d4b4c47189ec1","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" supports both heart and brain health. But in many executive cultures, sitting through seven consecutive hours of meetings is still treated as evidence of commitment."}],"markDefs":[{"_key":"20389f260fc3","_type":"link","href":"https://chief.com/articles/pvolve-women-midlife-fitness-longevity"}],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"e90109b9b6f5","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"5d46c63d564d0","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Leaders can make walking meetings acceptable, protect time between calls, and avoid creating schedules that make movement impossible. Instead of apologizing for taking that time, try: “I protect time for physical activity because it helps me think more clearly and lead more effectively.”"}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"65832ea144bf","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"fc9ef6bd9e010","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Rather than stepping away from performance, you’re investing in it."}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"bb781cc6271f","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"8fe8f71ef5160","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"2. Stop celebrating cognitive depletion."}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"dfd0fb0201eb","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"cfc769f17cb10","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Chronic sleep deprivation, constant availability, and back-to-back meetings are not leadership strengths. They reduce the very capacities organizations need from senior leaders: attention, judgment, adaptability, and impulse control."}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"f5025f4c4bdd","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"8dee1b6b0bca0","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"A leader can "},{"_key":"8dee1b6b0bca1","_type":"span","marks":["9880adaeccc0"],"text":"reset the norm"},{"_key":"8dee1b6b0bca2","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" with simple language: “This decision requires clear thinking. Let’s revisit it tomorrow rather than forcing an answer at the end of an exhausting day.”"}],"markDefs":[{"_key":"9880adaeccc0","_type":"link","href":"https://chief.com/articles/future-of-womens-leadership-mental-health"}],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"d765af28b3ad","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"546aed0b35a40","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"That sentence gives others permission to value the quality of their thinking, not simply the speed of their response."}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"4ae094e2ed19","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"87cadb8785c90","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"3. Make it safe to discuss cognitive health."}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"f84ef2aa05da","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"e53e9e6184d10","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"When someone experiences persistent changes in memory, reasoning, or the ability to complete familiar tasks, those concerns should not be dismissed as stress, age, or “"},{"_key":"e53e9e6184d11","_type":"span","marks":["b200b3a35941"],"text":"just menopause"},{"_key":"e53e9e6184d12","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":".” They deserve a conversation with a healthcare professional."}],"markDefs":[{"_key":"b200b3a35941","_type":"link","href":"https://chief.com/articles/nicole-johnston-women-leaders-checking-out"}],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"3eab9bf97b1d","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"61805b3acce80","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Women can advocate for themselves by being specific: “I have noticed a change from my usual level of functioning. It has persisted for several months and is affecting my work. I would like help understanding what may be causing it.”"}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"b90fc9aa4d91","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"f11eee5333c20","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Specific observations are harder to minimize than saying, “I feel foggy.”"}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"9a9ef727f01a","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"f1f196e9256d0","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Leaders can also help employees by responding to concerns with curiosity and discretion rather than judgment."}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"dc6e0cc756aa","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"04670aa3799c0","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"4. Build connection into the work."}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"bbb6d3acee06","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"c3791eccb5aa0","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Cognitive challenge is an important component of brain health. "},{"_key":"c3791eccb5aa1","_type":"span","marks":["226e13cd7568"],"text":"Social engagement"},{"_key":"c3791eccb5aa2","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" may also matter. Yet senior leadership can be remarkably isolating."}],"markDefs":[{"_key":"226e13cd7568","_type":"link","href":"https://chief.com/articles/why-frictionless-connection-stopped-working"}],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"bda3e9d6115f","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"a235b6bb74900","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Beyond providing professional development, mentoring, peer networks, and opportunities to learn something genuinely new can support cognitive and emotional well-being."}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"0237ccecb7f3","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"e77aeb09fe2d0","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Ask: “Does the way we work give people opportunities to learn, connect, and recover or only to produce?”"}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"149f2c3ac3fd","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"b256f81ae52e0","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"The answer reveals a great deal about whether an organization is sustaining its people or consuming them."}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"76304b56d8be","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"5ac05714928d0","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Your Most Valuable Asset Is Not on the Balance Sheet"}],"markDefs":[],"style":"heading2"},{"_key":"bbce5aa66fc0","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"dc4942eedd540","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Back at the pool, my friend was hoping for a checklist. I gave her one: Move regularly, eat in ways that support heart and brain health, stay cognitively engaged, monitor important heart health measures, and talk with a healthcare professional about any persistent changes you notice. For guidance, visit "},{"_key":"dc4942eedd541","_type":"span","marks":["09eddd5ef746"],"text":"rethinkyourbrain.org"},{"_key":"dc4942eedd542","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" to sign up for the Alzheimer’s Association’s new (re)think your brain™ 6-Step Challenge, which is designed to help people begin building these kinds of everyday healthy habits."}],"markDefs":[{"_key":"09eddd5ef746","_type":"link","href":"http://rethinkyourbrain.org"}],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"42df37472d87","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"67eaa2b455660","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"My friend’s question stayed with me."}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"5da93ad30bf7","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"f212259397030","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"She is a CFO. She has built her career protecting assets, assessing risk, and making investments intended to produce returns over time. Yet the asset behind every number she analyzes, every problem she solves, and every person she leads will never appear on her company’s balance sheet: Her brain."}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"4a9f7f2ddb2a","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"4b5c8960b3e40","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Women have spent decades proving that we can lead through almost anything. But the next evolution of leadership cannot be about how much depletion we can tolerate. And protecting our cognitive capacity cannot be one more responsibility women are expected to carry alone."}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"0cdb1e4ac193","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"d36d5df6793a0","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"My friend’s question that afternoon was personal: “What should I be doing for my brain?”"}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"7d93d5768b6b","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"07e09dceaf500","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"The actions may be personal. The responsibility is not."}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"61195aa6aa20","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"b80895dc9b060","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Now I have a question for her, and for every leadership team around the country: What are you going to do to support your workforce’s brain health?"}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"}],"supportingContent":null,"_rawEditorialCategory":{"_id":"71ee14c3-8926-418e-97e0-2e738cd11cac","_type":"category","_rev":"kuh6IZ2IntHupgeCe7EXM5","_createdAt":"2025-10-09T14:09:34Z","_updatedAt":"2025-10-26T18:20:40Z","description":"Discover strategies for supporting women's health in the workplace, from managing burnout to navigating fertility and menopause.\n","hideFromNav":false,"seo":{"_type":"seoFields","seoDescription":"From mental health and burnout to fertility and menopause, discover how leaders and organizations can support women’s health and wellbeing in the workplace with insights from Chief.\n","seoMetaTitle":"Chief | Women's Health & Wellbeing - Women's Mental Health at Work"},"slug":{"_type":"slug","current":"health-wellbeing"},"title":"Health & Wellbeing","id":"-d974e953-201b-5fdb-bf81-e47d7c0a9574","children":[],"parent":null},"article_related_series":null},"next":{"title":"Burnout in 2026: The Hidden Cost of ‘Fine’","article":{"title":"Burnout in 2026: The Hidden Cost of ‘Fine’","description":"30% of employees are experiencing silent burnout, Spring Health finds. 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The share of workers planning to job search in 2026 dropped to 43%, "},{"_key":"aaff3b2e2afc1","_type":"span","marks":["fbb1a38bf39f"],"text":"down sharply"},{"_key":"aaff3b2e2afc2","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" from 93% the year before, and employee confidence just hit a record low of 43.8%. That’s people staying because leaving feels riskier. A quiet team isn’t automatically a healthy one, and it’s worth looking closer rather than taking it at face value."}],"markDefs":[{"_key":"fbb1a38bf39f","_type":"link","href":"https://www.staffingindustry.com/news/global-daily-news/us-workers-brace-for-2026-amid-uncertainty-and-ai"}],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"cdcf40b741d4","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"6e770d01582e0","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"So what’s driving it? Three forces stand out:"}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"35970d2e2a5d","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"01811cf8206d0","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Financial stress. "},{"_key":"01811cf8206d1","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"59% of employees say they’re stressed about their finances right now, per PwC’s "},{"_key":"01811cf8206d2","_type":"span","marks":["7d5b09fdd2f2"],"text":"2026 Employee Financial Wellness Survey"},{"_key":"01811cf8206d3","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":", and "},{"_key":"01811cf8206d4","_type":"span","marks":["927c07fc88ef"],"text":"74% say"},{"_key":"01811cf8206d5","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" it’s significantly or somewhat affected their mental health. The surprising part: income level barely changes the picture. People you might assume are insulated by seniority or pay are affected just as much — including, quite possibly, your top performers."}],"markDefs":[{"_key":"7d5b09fdd2f2","_type":"link","href":"https://www.pwc.com/us/en/services/consulting/business-transformation/library/employee-financial-wellness-survey.html"},{"_key":"927c07fc88ef","_type":"link","href":"https://www.springhealth.com/blog/employee-financial-stress-mental-health-impact"}],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"c20f57a20151","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"434a8b5e38a20","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"AI-driven job anxiety. "},{"_key":"434a8b5e38a21","_type":"span","marks":["5605df97f9f4"],"text":"72% of U.S. adults"},{"_key":"434a8b5e38a22","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" worry about AI’s economic effects, and 47% worry specifically about their own job security. That fear is showing up in "},{"_key":"434a8b5e38a23","_type":"span","marks":["a83f03ed1e53"],"text":"how people talk about work"},{"_key":"434a8b5e38a24","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":": AI mentions in employee reviews more than tripled year-over-year, with sentiment running 53% negative, a sharp reversal from a year earlier. Much of it "},{"_key":"434a8b5e38a25","_type":"span","marks":["842a99806c9a"],"text":"comes down to trust"},{"_key":"434a8b5e38a26","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":". Employees increasingly see headcount cuts funded by AI investment, with AI cited as the reason after the fact, and they notice the gap. Leaders who are straightforward about what’s actually driving change tend to hold onto that trust; the ones who let AI become a euphemism tend to lose it."}],"markDefs":[{"_key":"5605df97f9f4","_type":"link","href":"https://www.springhealth.com/blog/2026-mental-health-trends-for-your-workplace"},{"_key":"a83f03ed1e53","_type":"link","href":"https://www.4cornerresources.com/job-market-news/job-market-2026-ai-anxiety-worker-trust-midyear/"},{"_key":"842a99806c9a","_type":"link","href":"https://chief.com/articles/ai-access-equity-workplace"}],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"6003c8a76c29","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"bf00dc56c41c0","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Return-to-office mandates. "},{"_key":"bf00dc56c41c1","_type":"span","marks":["1dd9e165b49b"],"text":"Half of workers"},{"_key":"bf00dc56c41c2","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" are now required on-site five days a week. Career advisors point to a second motive underneath the stated one: Some organizations use RTO as an indirect way to shed headcount, knowing a share of the workforce will leave rather than give up flexibility. That strategy can backfire — the employees with the most options are often the most willing to walk rather than accept rigid terms, and they’re rarely the ones you can most afford to lose. Naming the real reason, when there is one, tends to land better than letting people guess."}],"markDefs":[{"_key":"1dd9e165b49b","_type":"link","href":"https://www.newsweek.com/list-of-companies-calling-workers-back-to-office-in-2026-11242468"}],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"6a63771e2a90","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"344bf3f3a6920","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Today’s workforce is a more cautious one, absorbing more than it’s built to carry, and how leaders respond from here will shape a lot of what comes next."}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"26b81b4e03b5","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"4e84e1e1d3dc0","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"What Silence Is Costing You"}],"markDefs":[],"style":"heading2"},{"_key":"cf294eecef72","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"c61bf8dd08660","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"This is a moment where paying closer attention pays off. Gallup’s newly released "},{"_key":"c61bf8dd08661","_type":"span","marks":["ad3ed980a4fd"],"text":"State of the Global Workplace 2026 report"},{"_key":"c61bf8dd08662","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" found just 20% of employees globally are engaged, 64% are not engaged, and 16% are actively disengaged, with wellbeing (what Gallup calls “thriving”) sitting at just 34%, a slight uptick from the year before. Our workforce is running well below capacity, at scale."}],"markDefs":[{"_key":"ad3ed980a4fd","_type":"link","href":"https://www.gallup.com/workplace/697904/state-of-the-global-workplace-global-data.aspx"}],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"146a9405a1a7","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"25dea4bf8a870","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Rather than another wellness perk, the fix is building the visibility to catch disengagement before it becomes a leave, a resignation, or six months of underperformance nobody names out loud. The earlier it’s identified, the more options everyone has."}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"9bfd464084ac","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"8513fb9977950","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"What Leaders Can Do About It"}],"markDefs":[],"style":"heading2"},{"_key":"6bedcfe13342","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"258e1a0fc70d0","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Burnout is a function of how work is structured and managed — not a personal resilience gap, and not something a Calm subscription fixes. Here’s where the evidence says to put your energy:"}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"0a4c0ef675e5","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"6e9036c4ea9f0","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Invest in manager capability, not just headcount. "},{"_key":"6e9036c4ea9f1","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Manager quality is one of the biggest levers on team-level engagement and burnout, ahead of pay or perks. If your managers aren’t trained to spot early signs and have direct workload conversations, no downstream benefit will make up the difference."}],"level":1,"listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"f2c1646ffc5f","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"870fd1373e720","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Treat workload as a design problem, not a willpower problem. "},{"_key":"870fd1373e721","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Realistic staffing, clear role expectations, and less administrative drag beat resilience training every time, because they fix the source instead of asking people to simply absorb more."}],"level":1,"listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"ecf6480a938a","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"a40273ba5e230","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Make disconnection the norm, not just the policy. "},{"_key":"a40273ba5e231","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Presenteeism thrives where “always on” is quietly rewarded, and unlimited PTO means nothing if no one feels safe using it. Build in real mental health days, encourage people to fully unplug when they’re out, and model that respect for personal time from the top down."}],"level":1,"listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"c2b0ad09e58f","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"85c471bcc02e0","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Say the quiet part about AI out loud. "},{"_key":"85c471bcc02e1","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"If you’re making cuts and attributing them to AI, your people can likely tell. Being upfront about the real reason tends to build more trust than staying vague."}],"level":1,"listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"002ed1419785","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"0f46a846815c0","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Watch your senior women specifically. "},{"_key":"0f46a846815c1","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"The burnout gap widens as you move up, not down. Gallup’s research shows women in leadership have averaged roughly "},{"_key":"0f46a846815c2","_type":"span","marks":["a42bbf6c3c92"],"text":"10 points higher burnout"},{"_key":"0f46a846815c3","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" than men in leadership every year since 2022, and McKinsey and LeanIn’s 2025 Women in the Workplace report found 60% of senior-level women report frequent burnout, versus 50% of senior-level men. A generic wellness program built for the average employee will miss the person carrying the most."}],"level":1,"listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[{"_key":"a42bbf6c3c92","_type":"link","href":"https://www.gallup.com/workplace/702881/women-show-stronger-employee-engagement-amid-higher-burnout.aspx"}],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"2fdcbcb4217e","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"3b710b65bffb0","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Measure whether or not support is landing. "},{"_key":"3b710b65bffb1","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"This is where it pays off in numbers, not just goodwill: Employees at companies that "},{"_key":"3b710b65bffb2","_type":"span","marks":["c7d3aa41186d"],"text":"genuinely support mental health"},{"_key":"3b710b65bffb3","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" are twice as likely to report no burnout or depression at all. "},{"_key":"3b710b65bffb4","_type":"span","marks":["4cb32d480a20"],"text":"That’s a business case"},{"_key":"3b710b65bffb5","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":", not just a values statement — use it as one."}],"level":1,"listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[{"_key":"c7d3aa41186d","_type":"link","href":"https://www.mindsharepartners.org/2025-mental-health-at-work-report"},{"_key":"4cb32d480a20","_type":"link","href":"https://chief.com/articles/future-of-womens-leadership-mental-health"}],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"924b4179e7a4","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"d04a83bf59780","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Give people a reason to want to engage. "},{"_key":"d04a83bf59781","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Employees who feel real ownership over meaningful work bring far more discretionary effort than those simply checking boxes. Build in room for genuine ideation, autonomy, and passion projects, and engagement tends to follow."}],"level":1,"listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"862b3e33f146","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"c992e2d54d350","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Where You Come In"}],"markDefs":[],"style":"heading2"},{"_key":"631f30165776","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"33121466ef880","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Burnout in 2026 shows up in productivity, routine, and people doing just enough to get through the day, all while absorbing financial pressure, AI-driven fear, and RTO disruption."}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"0c7c64ddf88d","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"29055669a8180","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"If you lead people, that reality is closer to you than it might think. You’re disproportionately the one carrying this burnout yourself, and disproportionately the one with the power to change how your organization responds to it. Few people in the room have that kind of leverage."}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"f26bbd0b3a7b","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"46d76dfe48990","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"The usual warning signs show up after the moment to act on them has passed. Don’t wait for them. Find small ways to start today:"}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"334633aff69d","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"f7870b3744bd0","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Check in on your team for silent burnout now, "},{"_key":"f7870b3744bd1","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"not after the next engagement survey. Ask directly. Notice who’s gone quiet in meetings, not just who’s missed a deadline."}],"level":1,"listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"0b1ce5f2bc19","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"d2263a65ed4a0","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Put manager training on this year’s budget, "},{"_key":"d2263a65ed4a1","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"not next year’s wish list. It’s the highest-leverage move on this list."}],"level":1,"listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"12ae8d70bb81","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"c2ec6275a5020","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Be candid about what’s really happening with AI. "},{"_key":"c2ec6275a5021","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Your people can likely tell either way — being the one who says it plainly builds trust faster than staying quiet."}],"level":1,"listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"1935fd274882","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"56ff8e3240c70","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Take the time off you recommend for your team. "},{"_key":"56ff8e3240c71","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"People believe recovery is safe when they see their leader model it."}],"level":1,"listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"139d676d8d90","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"525fda23f8be0","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"You don’t need permission to start any of this. Just make the decision that it’s worth doing."}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"}],"supportingContent":null,"_rawEditorialCategory":{"_id":"71ee14c3-8926-418e-97e0-2e738cd11cac","_type":"category","_rev":"kuh6IZ2IntHupgeCe7EXM5","_createdAt":"2025-10-09T14:09:34Z","_updatedAt":"2025-10-26T18:20:40Z","description":"Discover strategies for supporting women's health in the workplace, from managing burnout to navigating fertility and menopause.\n","hideFromNav":false,"seo":{"_type":"seoFields","seoDescription":"From mental health and burnout to fertility and menopause, discover how leaders and organizations can support women’s health and wellbeing in the workplace with insights from Chief.\n","seoMetaTitle":"Chief | Women's Health & Wellbeing - Women's Mental Health at Work"},"slug":{"_type":"slug","current":"health-wellbeing"},"title":"Health & Wellbeing","id":"-d974e953-201b-5fdb-bf81-e47d7c0a9574","children":[],"parent":null},"article_related_series":null},"slug":"silent-burnout-2026-what-leaders-can-do","heroImage":{"caption":null,"attribution":null,"altText":"Illustration of melting lightbulb representing depleted energy and burnout","asset":{"id":"image-5052b6cc3578ad01d938d36fc829a8b05c7872f5-1920x1104-jpg","url":"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/xcsyo6gw/production/5052b6cc3578ad01d938d36fc829a8b05c7872f5-1920x1104.jpg"}},"content":[{"_key":"4046d5d83d0c","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"8455e0fa63130","_type":"span","marks":["em"],"text":"Longtime Chief Member "},{"_key":"8455e0fa63131","_type":"span","marks":["3f4359176fc9","em"],"text":"Alicia Wiedemann"},{"_key":"8455e0fa63132","_type":"span","marks":["em"],"text":" is a co-founder and Head of Strategy at creative and marketing agency "},{"_key":"8455e0fa63133","_type":"span","marks":["cbb4a09b2e5f","em"],"text":"Summer Friday"},{"_key":"8455e0fa63134","_type":"span","marks":["em"],"text":", where she and her team offer insights to help marketing leaders successfully navigate today’s trends."}],"markDefs":[{"_key":"3f4359176fc9","_type":"link","href":"https://www.linkedin.com/in/alicia-wiedemann2020/"},{"_key":"cbb4a09b2e5f","_type":"link","href":"https://heysummerfriday.com/"}],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"85ec6cad5ec0","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"6c096b7cb9a60","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"For years, burnout looked obvious. Employees resigned in record numbers, openly discussed exhaustion, and pushed organizations to rethink "},{"_key":"6c096b7cb9a61","_type":"span","marks":["62ebc178f876"],"text":"work-life balance"},{"_key":"6c096b7cb9a62","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":". It was visible, measurable, impossible to ignore."}],"markDefs":[{"_key":"62ebc178f876","_type":"link","href":"https://chief.com/category/work-life-balance"}],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"c8087a40fdb6","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"9e9c6e833acc0","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Today it looks different — and if you’re leading people right now, you have more influence over how this plays out than you might think. Employees are staying, but are they engaged? They show up to meetings, answer emails, and meet deadlines, even as employee reviews mentioning burnout climb 65% year-over-year. Burnout hasn’t disappeared — it’s "},{"_key":"9e9c6e833acc1","_type":"span","marks":["17efb3dd3528"],"text":"just gone quiet"},{"_key":"9e9c6e833acc2","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":". It’s up to today’s leaders to catch the early signs before they spread further."}],"markDefs":[{"_key":"17efb3dd3528","_type":"link","href":"https://chief.com/articles/senior-women-leaders-burnout-emotional-labor"}],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"3ce943d6b3a4","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"06c7e8bc98f10","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"The New, Silent Face of Burnout"}],"markDefs":[],"style":"heading2"},{"_key":"bee74f48f514","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"b9d5fe4a1e8e0","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Organizations are increasingly facing what researchers call "},{"_key":"b9d5fe4a1e8e1","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"silent burnout"},{"_key":"b9d5fe4a1e8e2","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":": people who stay productive on the surface while becoming emotionally exhausted, disengaged, and mentally checked out. It rarely announces itself through resignations. It erodes engagement and creativity gradually, which is exactly why spotting it early matters."}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"dc941097a2e2","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"6dd8a594e6030","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Spring Health’s "},{"_key":"6dd8a594e6031","_type":"span","marks":["21b565e128a7"],"text":"2026 Workplace Mental Health Annual Report"},{"_key":"6dd8a594e6032","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" puts a number on it: HR leaders estimate 30% of employees are experiencing silent burnout, and 40% of employees who’ve already experienced burnout report presenteeism — the act of being physically present but mentally elsewhere. It even shows up where you’d least expect it: the share of positive reviews mentioning burnout rose 35% from 2024 to 2025. Read that twice. 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If your best people are the ones absorbing the most without complaint, silence isn’t a good sign so much as a symptom."}],"markDefs":[{"_key":"21b565e128a7","_type":"link","href":"https://www.springhealth.com/guides/2026-workplace-mental-health-annual-report"},{"_key":"72cac791acb0","_type":"link","href":"https://chief.com/articles/erin-coupe-energy-intelligence-leadership"}],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"4c8ec344b29a","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"a8ef1b17cff40","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Why Your People Aren’t Walking Away — and What That Actually Means"}],"markDefs":[],"style":"heading2"},{"_key":"9b17e63070a3","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"aaff3b2e2afc0","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Historically, burnout drove turnover, which at least made the problem visible. Not anymore. The share of workers planning to job search in 2026 dropped to 43%, "},{"_key":"aaff3b2e2afc1","_type":"span","marks":["fbb1a38bf39f"],"text":"down sharply"},{"_key":"aaff3b2e2afc2","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" from 93% the year before, and employee confidence just hit a record low of 43.8%. That’s people staying because leaving feels riskier. A quiet team isn’t automatically a healthy one, and it’s worth looking closer rather than taking it at face value."}],"markDefs":[{"_key":"fbb1a38bf39f","_type":"link","href":"https://www.staffingindustry.com/news/global-daily-news/us-workers-brace-for-2026-amid-uncertainty-and-ai"}],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"cdcf40b741d4","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"6e770d01582e0","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"So what’s driving it? Three forces stand out:"}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"35970d2e2a5d","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"01811cf8206d0","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Financial stress. "},{"_key":"01811cf8206d1","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"59% of employees say they’re stressed about their finances right now, per PwC’s "},{"_key":"01811cf8206d2","_type":"span","marks":["7d5b09fdd2f2"],"text":"2026 Employee Financial Wellness Survey"},{"_key":"01811cf8206d3","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":", and "},{"_key":"01811cf8206d4","_type":"span","marks":["927c07fc88ef"],"text":"74% say"},{"_key":"01811cf8206d5","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" it’s significantly or somewhat affected their mental health. The surprising part: income level barely changes the picture. People you might assume are insulated by seniority or pay are affected just as much — including, quite possibly, your top performers."}],"markDefs":[{"_key":"7d5b09fdd2f2","_type":"link","href":"https://www.pwc.com/us/en/services/consulting/business-transformation/library/employee-financial-wellness-survey.html"},{"_key":"927c07fc88ef","_type":"link","href":"https://www.springhealth.com/blog/employee-financial-stress-mental-health-impact"}],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"c20f57a20151","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"434a8b5e38a20","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"AI-driven job anxiety. "},{"_key":"434a8b5e38a21","_type":"span","marks":["5605df97f9f4"],"text":"72% of U.S. adults"},{"_key":"434a8b5e38a22","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" worry about AI’s economic effects, and 47% worry specifically about their own job security. That fear is showing up in "},{"_key":"434a8b5e38a23","_type":"span","marks":["a83f03ed1e53"],"text":"how people talk about work"},{"_key":"434a8b5e38a24","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":": AI mentions in employee reviews more than tripled year-over-year, with sentiment running 53% negative, a sharp reversal from a year earlier. Much of it "},{"_key":"434a8b5e38a25","_type":"span","marks":["842a99806c9a"],"text":"comes down to trust"},{"_key":"434a8b5e38a26","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":". Employees increasingly see headcount cuts funded by AI investment, with AI cited as the reason after the fact, and they notice the gap. Leaders who are straightforward about what’s actually driving change tend to hold onto that trust; the ones who let AI become a euphemism tend to lose it."}],"markDefs":[{"_key":"5605df97f9f4","_type":"link","href":"https://www.springhealth.com/blog/2026-mental-health-trends-for-your-workplace"},{"_key":"a83f03ed1e53","_type":"link","href":"https://www.4cornerresources.com/job-market-news/job-market-2026-ai-anxiety-worker-trust-midyear/"},{"_key":"842a99806c9a","_type":"link","href":"https://chief.com/articles/ai-access-equity-workplace"}],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"6003c8a76c29","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"bf00dc56c41c0","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Return-to-office mandates. "},{"_key":"bf00dc56c41c1","_type":"span","marks":["1dd9e165b49b"],"text":"Half of workers"},{"_key":"bf00dc56c41c2","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" are now required on-site five days a week. Career advisors point to a second motive underneath the stated one: Some organizations use RTO as an indirect way to shed headcount, knowing a share of the workforce will leave rather than give up flexibility. That strategy can backfire — the employees with the most options are often the most willing to walk rather than accept rigid terms, and they’re rarely the ones you can most afford to lose. Naming the real reason, when there is one, tends to land better than letting people guess."}],"markDefs":[{"_key":"1dd9e165b49b","_type":"link","href":"https://www.newsweek.com/list-of-companies-calling-workers-back-to-office-in-2026-11242468"}],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"6a63771e2a90","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"344bf3f3a6920","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Today’s workforce is a more cautious one, absorbing more than it’s built to carry, and how leaders respond from here will shape a lot of what comes next."}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"26b81b4e03b5","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"4e84e1e1d3dc0","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"What Silence Is Costing You"}],"markDefs":[],"style":"heading2"},{"_key":"cf294eecef72","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"c61bf8dd08660","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"This is a moment where paying closer attention pays off. Gallup’s newly released "},{"_key":"c61bf8dd08661","_type":"span","marks":["ad3ed980a4fd"],"text":"State of the Global Workplace 2026 report"},{"_key":"c61bf8dd08662","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" found just 20% of employees globally are engaged, 64% are not engaged, and 16% are actively disengaged, with wellbeing (what Gallup calls “thriving”) sitting at just 34%, a slight uptick from the year before. Our workforce is running well below capacity, at scale."}],"markDefs":[{"_key":"ad3ed980a4fd","_type":"link","href":"https://www.gallup.com/workplace/697904/state-of-the-global-workplace-global-data.aspx"}],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"146a9405a1a7","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"25dea4bf8a870","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Rather than another wellness perk, the fix is building the visibility to catch disengagement before it becomes a leave, a resignation, or six months of underperformance nobody names out loud. The earlier it’s identified, the more options everyone has."}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"9bfd464084ac","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"8513fb9977950","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"What Leaders Can Do About It"}],"markDefs":[],"style":"heading2"},{"_key":"6bedcfe13342","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"258e1a0fc70d0","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Burnout is a function of how work is structured and managed — not a personal resilience gap, and not something a Calm subscription fixes. Here’s where the evidence says to put your energy:"}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"0a4c0ef675e5","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"6e9036c4ea9f0","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Invest in manager capability, not just headcount. "},{"_key":"6e9036c4ea9f1","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Manager quality is one of the biggest levers on team-level engagement and burnout, ahead of pay or perks. If your managers aren’t trained to spot early signs and have direct workload conversations, no downstream benefit will make up the difference."}],"level":1,"listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"f2c1646ffc5f","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"870fd1373e720","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Treat workload as a design problem, not a willpower problem. "},{"_key":"870fd1373e721","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Realistic staffing, clear role expectations, and less administrative drag beat resilience training every time, because they fix the source instead of asking people to simply absorb more."}],"level":1,"listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"ecf6480a938a","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"a40273ba5e230","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Make disconnection the norm, not just the policy. "},{"_key":"a40273ba5e231","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Presenteeism thrives where “always on” is quietly rewarded, and unlimited PTO means nothing if no one feels safe using it. Build in real mental health days, encourage people to fully unplug when they’re out, and model that respect for personal time from the top down."}],"level":1,"listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"c2b0ad09e58f","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"85c471bcc02e0","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Say the quiet part about AI out loud. "},{"_key":"85c471bcc02e1","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"If you’re making cuts and attributing them to AI, your people can likely tell. Being upfront about the real reason tends to build more trust than staying vague."}],"level":1,"listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"002ed1419785","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"0f46a846815c0","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Watch your senior women specifically. "},{"_key":"0f46a846815c1","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"The burnout gap widens as you move up, not down. Gallup’s research shows women in leadership have averaged roughly "},{"_key":"0f46a846815c2","_type":"span","marks":["a42bbf6c3c92"],"text":"10 points higher burnout"},{"_key":"0f46a846815c3","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" than men in leadership every year since 2022, and McKinsey and LeanIn’s 2025 Women in the Workplace report found 60% of senior-level women report frequent burnout, versus 50% of senior-level men. A generic wellness program built for the average employee will miss the person carrying the most."}],"level":1,"listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[{"_key":"a42bbf6c3c92","_type":"link","href":"https://www.gallup.com/workplace/702881/women-show-stronger-employee-engagement-amid-higher-burnout.aspx"}],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"2fdcbcb4217e","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"3b710b65bffb0","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Measure whether or not support is landing. "},{"_key":"3b710b65bffb1","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"This is where it pays off in numbers, not just goodwill: Employees at companies that "},{"_key":"3b710b65bffb2","_type":"span","marks":["c7d3aa41186d"],"text":"genuinely support mental health"},{"_key":"3b710b65bffb3","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" are twice as likely to report no burnout or depression at all. "},{"_key":"3b710b65bffb4","_type":"span","marks":["4cb32d480a20"],"text":"That’s a business case"},{"_key":"3b710b65bffb5","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":", not just a values statement — use it as one."}],"level":1,"listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[{"_key":"c7d3aa41186d","_type":"link","href":"https://www.mindsharepartners.org/2025-mental-health-at-work-report"},{"_key":"4cb32d480a20","_type":"link","href":"https://chief.com/articles/future-of-womens-leadership-mental-health"}],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"924b4179e7a4","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"d04a83bf59780","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Give people a reason to want to engage. "},{"_key":"d04a83bf59781","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Employees who feel real ownership over meaningful work bring far more discretionary effort than those simply checking boxes. Build in room for genuine ideation, autonomy, and passion projects, and engagement tends to follow."}],"level":1,"listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"862b3e33f146","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"c992e2d54d350","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Where You Come In"}],"markDefs":[],"style":"heading2"},{"_key":"631f30165776","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"33121466ef880","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Burnout in 2026 shows up in productivity, routine, and people doing just enough to get through the day, all while absorbing financial pressure, AI-driven fear, and RTO disruption."}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"0c7c64ddf88d","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"29055669a8180","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"If you lead people, that reality is closer to you than it might think. You’re disproportionately the one carrying this burnout yourself, and disproportionately the one with the power to change how your organization responds to it. Few people in the room have that kind of leverage."}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"f26bbd0b3a7b","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"46d76dfe48990","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"The usual warning signs show up after the moment to act on them has passed. Don’t wait for them. Find small ways to start today:"}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"334633aff69d","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"f7870b3744bd0","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Check in on your team for silent burnout now, "},{"_key":"f7870b3744bd1","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"not after the next engagement survey. Ask directly. Notice who’s gone quiet in meetings, not just who’s missed a deadline."}],"level":1,"listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"0b1ce5f2bc19","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"d2263a65ed4a0","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Put manager training on this year’s budget, "},{"_key":"d2263a65ed4a1","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"not next year’s wish list. It’s the highest-leverage move on this list."}],"level":1,"listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"12ae8d70bb81","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"c2ec6275a5020","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Be candid about what’s really happening with AI. "},{"_key":"c2ec6275a5021","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Your people can likely tell either way — being the one who says it plainly builds trust faster than staying quiet."}],"level":1,"listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"1935fd274882","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"56ff8e3240c70","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Take the time off you recommend for your team. "},{"_key":"56ff8e3240c71","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"People believe recovery is safe when they see their leader model it."}],"level":1,"listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"139d676d8d90","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"525fda23f8be0","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"You don’t need permission to start any of this. Just make the decision that it’s worth doing."}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"}]},"href":"https://chief.com/articles/brain-health-business-asset-leaders","relatedArticles":[]}},
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