Workplace Wellness Hour (April Recap)
In April, hosts Sumana Jeddy and Felipe Cofiño led a powerful two-part LinkedIn Audio series exploring one of the most pressing challenges in today’s work culture: stress. In this blog, we’re highlighting key takeaways from both Workplace Wellness Hour sessions (live on LinkedIn every other Monday night) including where stress comes from and how we can navigate it more intentionally.
Regular co-host Ashley Fluellen had to step away to support her family, a timely and human reminder of how stress touches every part of life.
Understanding the Roots of Workplace Stress (live on 04.14.2025)
Felipe Cofiño opened his #FelipesFive with five jarring stats:
- 83% of U.S. workers experience daily work-related stress
- 68% feel they lack a healthy work-life balance
And when stress goes unmanaged:
- 40% of job turnover is tied to stress
- 39% have taken unplanned time off because of it
- 35% have lost their temper at work
The top stressors?
Heavy workloads, poor management, unclear communication, and feeling undertrained or unsupported.
All of these themes have been recently dissected in Jeddy Wellness blogs, including how to understand and handle the three types of workloads.
Sumana Jeddy reframed our relationship with stress: “Stress can be an ally,” she said. It’s a signal often pointing to a disconnect between expectations and available resources, or a role that doesn’t play to your strengths.
One of her key messages was to be thoughtful about the environments you step into. If certain settings, leadership styles, or types of projects are known triggers, try to avoid them when possible. Be familiar with your strengths and set yourself up for success.
Most importantly, we need to distinguish between manageable stress and chronic stress. Knowing what the frequent stressors of your workplace are and how to counteract them allows the stress loop to close, keeping it manageable.
With the right awareness and strategies, we can shift from reactive to proactive.
Spotlight on Middle Managers (live on 04.28.2025)
In part two, the focus shifted to one of the most overlooked sources of workplace pressure: middle management.
Recent data from Gallup’s State of the Workplace 2025 Report shows that 62% of middle managers are facing unsustainable levels of stress.
They’re positioned between frontline employees and upper leadership responsible for delivering results while also interpreting and executing decisions from both ends. Add in the emotional labor of managing clients and navigating team dynamics, and it’s easy to see why so many are burning out.
Sumana and Felipe shared several ways to manage this pressure more intentionally:
- Practice transparency – Use specific language with open and honest communication
- Advocate up – As the closest to your team, your insight matters don’t be afraid to speak up.
- Set boundaries – Ask yourself: What’s my goal? What’s within my control?
- Prioritize high-impact tasks – Focus on what truly matters for outcomes.
- Model healthy behaviour – The way you manage stress sets the tone for your team
- Create small rituals of joy – Even brief breaks or Friday check-ins can make a difference.
Sumana also pointed out that middle managers often operate in “ambiguous authority zones.” You might influence decisions but not control them so it’s important not to internalize responsibility for things outside your role. That distinction can ease a lot of the emotional burden and encourage well-being in the workplace ecosystem.
Time to Transition
Workplace stress isn’t static; it evolves alongside shifting roles, responsibilities, and demands. We may not be able to eliminate stress entirely, but we can influence how we respond to it.
These sessions served as a compelling reminder: with stronger communication, thoughtful boundaries, and a better understanding of where we thrive, we can create healthier workplaces and build more sustainable careers.
Additional stress management and workplace well-being strategies can be accessed and downloaded in the 2025 Workplace Wellness Guide For Leaders and Professionals.
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
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