In this episode, Natalie and Shanté take a hard look at what wellness in the workplace really means in 2025. Spoiler: it’s not bubble baths, yoga sessions, or sporadic wellness emails. It’s about addressing the real stressors employees face daily and rethinking what effective workplace wellness looks like — beyond surface-level perks.
Episode Highlights:
Wellness Fatigue is Real: Employers rushed to implement wellness programs post-2020, but many initiatives felt like one-off tactics rather than part of a meaningful strategy. Yoga sessions and mobile barbers are great, but are they actually meeting employee needs? Natalie and Shanté break down why so many wellness programs missed the mark.
35% Productivity Drop from Chronic Stress: Shanté shares a striking stat: workers dealing with chronic stress or trauma can experience up to a 35% decrease in productivity. In today’s world of non-stop news cycles, layoffs, and global uncertainty, understanding the link between wellbeing and performance is non-negotiable.
The Employer’s Real Role in Employee Wellbeing: Let’s be clear: employers are not responsible for fixing every employee’s life. But they are responsible for creating psychologically safe workplaces and realistic workloads. If people feel overwhelmed, unsupported, or uncertain about expectations, productivity and morale will plummet.
Stop Playing Wellness Darts: Throwing random perks at employees and hoping they stick is not a strategy. Wellness needs to be operationalized and integrated into the flow of work itself — not treated as an add-on or afterthought.
Key Takeaways:
Favorite Quote of the Episode:
“If you don’t consider people’s humanity, we’ll keep getting headlines of people getting laid off. And if you think your people aren’t enough to drive your business goals, you’ve already lost.” — Natalie Norfus
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