Workplace Wellness Hour (May Recap)
Mental health remains a priority in today’s workplace but it’s also a space where many leaders and employees are still asking the same question: How do we support others without overstepping?
In May, Workplace Wellness Hour hosts Sumana Jeddy and Felipe Cofiño used the bi-weekly LinkedIn Audio series to explore the nuances of offering support that’s both helpful and respectful, while also shedding light on how chronic conditions can impact performance, presence, and overall well-being at work.
Below, we’re recapping key takeaways from both sessions to help you build a workplace culture that supports health without pressure, and care without crossing boundaries.
Mental Health at Work: Supporting Without Overstepping (live on 05.12.2025)
What Is Psychological Safety?
One of the biggest barriers to supporting mental health at work is discomfort. While many employees acknowledge that mental health is a valid topic at work, most don’t feel safe or comfortable bringing it up. That’s where psychological safety comes in.
Psychological safety means creating an environment where employees feel safe enough to show up as themselves, without fear of judgment or consequence. That might sound like a lofty goal, but it starts small.
As Sumana reminded us, supporting someone doesn’t mean solving their problem, it simply means showing up. Whether it’s offering their favourite coffee or sweet treat, a flexible deadline, or simply listening without pressure or agenda, these moments add up. You are not their therapist, but you can still show up with care.
The Power of Micro-Behaviors
One key is paying attention to micro-behaviors.
Is a normally chatty colleague suddenly quiet on Slack?
Has someone been “camera off” more than usual in meetings?
These subtle shifts can be indicators that something is off. When in doubt, a low-pressure check-in that focuses on connection, not correction, can go a long way.
Using the F.I.T.T. Framework for Everyday Support
To help structure this kind of everyday support, leaders and coworkers can use the F.I.T.T. Framework for workplace connections, previously shared by Jeddy Wellness. Designed as a “connection prescription,” F.I.T.T. stands for Frequency, Intensity, Time, and Type. It’s a simple but powerful guide to building intentional social support at work.
Whether you’re a manager or team member, using the F.I.T.T. framework helps reduce isolation and stress while strengthening team bonds and overall well-being.
Why It Matters: The Health Impact of Workplace Conditions
Work conditions directly influence health outcomes.
Financial stress, long hours, and lack of autonomy don’t just lead to burnout, they contribute to long-term health issues like hypertension, anxiety, and chronic fatigue.
Embedding small, intentional connections into the workday creates an environment where employees feel seen, supported, and able to care for both their work and their wellness
Managing Chronic Conditions at Work (Live on 05.26.2025)
As Felipe shared in the second session, chronic conditions are more common than many realize, and far more impactful. From fatigue and anxiety to autoimmune disorders and PTSD, chronic conditions often lack visible markers. But their effects show up in how people work, communicate, and engage.
The Cost of Inaction: Key Data
According to data from WHO, the CDC, and other global organizations:
- 60% of people live with at least one chronic health condition
- 12 billion workdays are lost annually to depression and anxiety
- Working more than 55 hours/week increases the risk of stroke, hypertension, and heart disease
This isn’t just a health issue, it’s an economic one.
Chronic stress and poor workplace support cost organizations billions in absenteeism, presenteeism, lost productivity, and turnover. But there’s good news: proactive support pays off.
That’s where #FelipesFive comes in, a framework to help managers and team members alike reframe how they view and support chronic conditions in the workplace:
- Employees with chronic conditions can still be high performing. Treat them as capable not broken.
- You don’t need all the details to be supportive. Assume competence. Ask about how to help.
- Conversations about mental health don’t need to be dramatic to be meaningful. Normalize casual, low-pressure moments.
Listen to the rest of #FelipesFive here
Bonus: Aligning Strengths and Sustainability
Another strategy recently presented by Jeddy Wellness focuses on identifying and leveraging signature strengths. These are not just the skills employees excel at, but also the environments in which they work best.
When employers understand both what someone does well and how they thrive, they can create a more sustainable, strengths-based culture. By aligning tasks with strengths, employees are better equipped to balance their work responsibilities with their health needs, helping to prevent burnout and build long-term resilience across teams.
Final Thoughts: Caring with Intention
Mental health and chronic conditions aren’t outside-the-office problems, they show up at work every day.
With intentional care, workplaces can become spaces of understanding rather than assumption, flexibility rather than fragility.
As regular co-host Ashley Fluellen often reminds us when she’s on air: Change starts with awareness but it’s sustained by action. Whether you’re a leader, team member, or somewhere in between, the invitation is the same: show up, ask, listen and believe people when they tell you what they need.
Workplace Wellness Hour will be taking a break for the summer. There will be no new episodes in July and August.
Our next live event was on June 9, 2025, followed by our season finale on Jun 23, 2025.
Connecting Through Growth
The Collective Events
As we delve into fostering healthier work environments, we recognize the immense value that collective growth brings to our culture. We host these audio events so we can create a supportive atmosphere where all can excel. This nurtures a network of encouragement and unified goals, transforming individual ambitions into shared victories.
For new events follow The Collective!
Written By: Hannah Nease & Sumana Jeddy
______________________________
Stay Connected with Jeddy Wellness
Discover evidence-based research and innovative strategies to build and activate healthier workplaces.
What If Real Leadership Is About Making People Feel Safe?
Who Do You Trust? Think of two people in your life you deeply trust. Why do you trust them? What have they done consistently to
Supporting Chronic Conditions at Work
Workplace Wellness Hour (May Recap) Mental health remains a priority in today’s workplace but it’s also a space where many leaders and employees are still
Mindful Mind-Wandering to Jumpstart Creativity at Work
Have you noticed your best ideas rarely come from intense focus? Instead, they often strike during a walk, in the shower, or when your mind
