Abstract
There are more than 160 million people who are a part of the U.S. workforce today.1 Work is one of the most vital parts of life, powerfully shaping our health, wealth, and well-being.2 At its best, work provides us the ability to support ourselves and our loved ones, and can also provide us with a sense of meaning, opportunities for growth, and a community. When people thrive at work, they are more likely to feel physically and mentally healthy overall, and to contribute positively to their workplace.3 This creates both a responsibility and unique opportunity for leaders to create workplace environments that support the health and well‑being of workers. Although the COVID-19 pandemic may have accelerated the evolution of work and the conversation around workplace mental health and well-being, broad recognition and appreciation for the relationship between the work environment, culture, community, and our health preceded the pandemic.4, 5, 6, 7 While many challenges outside the workplace may impact well-being—from economic inequality, food insecurity, and housing insecurity to household, educational, and medical debt—there are still many ways that organizations can function as engines for mental health and well-being.8, 9 Organizational leaders, managers, supervisors, and workers alike have an unprecedented opportunity to examine the role of work in our lives and explore ways to better enable all workers to thrive within the workplace and beyond.
