Healthy Work

In Episode 121, we turn our focus to a critical issue in healthcare: patient aggression and its impact on worker well‑being . We’re joined by Dr. Lisa Kath , Associate Professor of Psychology at San Diego State University, to discuss new research on how healthcare workers are affected not just by direct exposure to aggressive patient behavior, but also by witnessing and hearing about it . Drawing...

In Episode 120, we explore a topic that is incredibly common, but rarely talked about at work: reproductive loss . We’re joined by Dr. Katrina Brownell , Assistant Professor of Management at Virginia Tech, who uses an autoethnographic approach to examine her own experiences with pregnancy loss and what happens when organizations lack the language, policies, and support to acknowledge it. Reproduct...

In episode 119 , we dig into a question many of us have experienced firsthand: Why does a stressful day at work make us (and our partners!) devour cookies, takeout, or comfort food. We’re joined by Dr. Wiston Rodriguez , Assistant Professor of Psychology at San Diego State University, to explore new research on how workplace stressors, specifically illegitimate tasks , shape employees’ eating beha...

We are excited to introduce the Healthy Work Graduate Student Research Contest. If you are currently a graduate student (Masters or PhD) engaged in research on the intersection of employment/work and health/wellbeing, please consider submitting your research for consideration for this contest. Winners will be invited onto the podcast to share their research, and will receive a certificate and smal...

In episode 118, we’re joined by Dr. David Arena to explore how people decide whether, when, and how to reveal important parts of their identity at work , especially in environments that feel unwelcoming or hostile. Much of the research on workplace identity assumes disclosure is a simple yes‑or‑no choice. But Dr. Arena’s work shows that identity management is far more nuanced. Through two studies...

In episode 117, we explore a question many working parents and professionals experience daily: Why do some demanding workdays leave us energized and fulfilled at home, while others leave us completely drained? Drawing on a recent daily diary study published by Junker and colleagues in Work & Stress , we unpack new research on workload, work‑related rumination, boundary control, and work‑to‑home sp...

In episode 116, we’re joined by Dr. Beth Stelson , Assistant Professor at Washington University in St. Louis, to unpack an often invisible, but consequential, workplace hazard: vicarious trauma . Vicarious trauma occurs when workers are repeatedly exposed to other people’s traumatic experiences, leading to psychological and physiological stress responses—even when they haven’t experienced the trau...

In episode 115, we explore a workplace trend that refuses to die despite years of employee complaints and growing research evidence: open office layouts . Drawing on a newly published study by Michael Rosander and Morten Nielsen in Occupational Health Science , we break down what different types of office setups mean for bullying experiences, job satisfaction, and turnover intentions . Using a lar...

In episode 114, we sit down with Dr. Verena Haun , Professor of Work and Organizational Psychology at the University of Würzburg, to explore a question many of us feel every Friday afternoon: Why is it sometimes easy to switch off from work—and other times almost impossible? Drawing on a multi‑week study of more than 150 employees, Dr. Haun’s research uncovers three distinct patterns of psychologi...

In episode 113, we sit down with occupational health researcher Dr. Annabelle Neall , Senior Lecturer in Mental Health and Wellbeing and Director of the Flinders Workplace Wellbeing Lab in Australia, to explore a critical and often misunderstood question: Why do so few workers report sexual harassment, even when it’s widespread and well‑recognized? Drawing on surveys of Australian workers and in‑d...

In episode 112 we sit down with renowned management scholar Dr. Yehuda Baruch to unpack one of today’s biggest questions: Are careers truly more dynamic now than in the past? Drawing on a decade of population‑level labor market data from Bulgaria, Dr. Baruch reveals surprising insights about job mobility, career transitions, wage growth, multinational vs. local employers, and the evolving nature o...

In Episode 111, we kick off 2026 with a powerful conversation featuring Drs. Julian Barling and Simon Rego, co-authors of The Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Workbook for Leaders . Together, they explore how evidence-based psychological strategies can help leaders manage stress, burnout, anxiety, and other mental health challenges that undermine leadership effectiveness. Key insights include: * Why m...

In Episode 110, we are joined by Dr. Gena Cox, IO psychologist, executive coach, and author of Leading Inclusion. We explore what it really takes to create workplaces where everyone thrives. Gina introduces her R-E-D-I framework (Respect, Equity, Diversity, Inclusion) and explains why respect must come first to build trust and meaningful inclusion. You can find Dr. Cox on her website ( https://gen...

In episode 109, we sit down with Drs. Ian Katz and Shelly Rauvola, co-editors of a groundbreaking special issue in Industrial and Organizational Psychology . Together, we explore how current public policy changes in the United States are reshaping the world of work, from employee well-being and marginalized worker experiences to the future of I-O psychology education and research. Key takeaways in...

In episode 108, we chat with Justin Weinhardt to explore his recent research on ADHD in the workplace. Drawing from a multi-day study of employees with ADHD, they unpack how daily symptom fluctuations impact engagement—and how job crafting can serve as a powerful, science-backed strategy for managing attention and motivation at work. Key insights include: * Why ADHD symptoms vary day-to-day and ho...

In episode 107 we unpack the global and domestic landscape of workplace safety regulation. Drawing from a recent paper by Maureen Dollard and Rachael Potter, we explore how psychosocial risks (e.g., job stress, job insecurity, and AI disruption) are increasingly recognized as legitimate safety concerns. The conversation dives into: * How Australia enforces psychosocial safety standards * Why OSHA’...

In episode 106, we speak with Dr. Hana Johnson, Associate Professor at Washington State University, about her recent research on how disaster from pandemics to wildfires impact employees differently based on social class and identity. Learn how class salience intensifies feelings of devaluation, anxiety, and social withdrawal at work, and why organizations must rethink disaster response policies t...

In this episode 105 we chat with Drs. Katina Sawyer and Patricia Grabarek, co-authors of Leading for Wellness , to unpack what it means to be a “generator” versus an “extinguisher” in leadership. We explore how person-centered planning, authentic leadership, and microcultures can foster thriving teams—even in toxic organizations. Learn how real-world interviews shaped their framework, and get acti...

In episode 104 we chat with Alyssa McGonagle, Associate Professor at UNC Charlotte and author of Chronic Health Conditions and Work: Proactive Strategies for Supporting Employees and Doing Well by Doing Good . We explore the intersection of chronic illness, disability, and employment. We cover key legal protections like the ADA, FMLA, and ACA, the challenges of disclosure and identity management,...

In episode 103 we chat with Drs. Andrea Bazzoli and Ian Hughes to explore their recent publication in the Journal of Business and Psychology . The conversation dives deep into how financial stress fluctuates over time , why small monetary changes —not just big windfalls—can significantly impact employee well-being, and how the nonlinear nature of these relationships challenge traditional assumptio...

In Episode 102 we chat with Drs. Denise Vesper and Michael Zickar about a recent special collaborative piece they published in Occupational Health Science . In this powerful episode we dive deep into the evolving role of labor unions in promoting worker health and safety across the globe. Topics include: * The psychological impact of strikes and union activity * How unions address health and safet...

In Episode 101 we chat with Mikaila Ortynsky , a PhD candidate at the University of Ottawa, to unpack her groundbreaking research on menstruation in the workplace. We explore how menstrual cycles impact task performance, emotional regulation, and organizational citizenship behaviors, and why most workplaces are still failing to provide even the most basic support. We challenges the default male wo...

We made it to triple digits! In this celebratory episode, we reflect on how the field of occupational health psychology—and our own lives— have evolved over the past 100 episodes of Healthy Work —from burnout and sleep to leadership and labor policy. From burnout and bullying to policy and precarity, we’ve covered a lot. We talk about the shift from individual-level interventions (remember when mi...

In a special Episode 99, we have a live-recorded interview with the Winners of the 2024-2025 Best Paper Award from Occupational Health Science. Drs. Leslie Hammer, Jennifer Dimoff, Cynthia D. Mohr, & Shalene J. Allen won for their paper “A Framework for Protecting and Promoting Employee Mental Health through Supervisor Supportive Behaviors.” We chat about strategies managers can use to prevent and...

In episode 98, we are joined by Dr. Alicia Grandey, co-author of the new book Emotionally Charged: How to Lead in the New World of Work . Together, we explored the realities of emotions , emotional labor , burnout , and how leaders can cultivate emotional intelligence to thrive in today’s demanding workplace. Dr. Grandey shared the core principles from her book, including: * Why emotional labor is...