Healthy Work

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 how that affects work performance

* The surprising effectiveness of adding fun and variety to tasks

* Why reducing workload isn’t always the best solution

* How organizations can foster environments that support mental health disclosure

* What all employees can learn from ADHD coping strategies

Whether you’re a manager, researcher, or someone navigating ADHD at work, this episode offers practical tools and a fresh perspective on neurodiversity and workplace well-being.

Check out the original paper here: https://link-springer-com.ezproxy2.library.colostate.edu/article/10.1007/s10869-025-10065-0

You can find Dr. Weinhardt here: https://profiles.ucalgary.ca/justin-weinhardt

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’s limited scope and resources hinder worker protection in the U.S.

* The role of unions and the NLRB in safeguarding employee well-being

* How collective action and expanded definitions of safety can reshape the future of work

This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in occupational health psychology, labor policy, and the evolving definition of workplace safety.

Read the paper here (https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s41542-025-00236-z)

Find OSHA’s proposed regulation rollbacks, and leave public comments on them, here (https://www.osha.gov/deregulatory-rulemaking). Reminder, public comments are due November 1, 2025.

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 to support vulnerable workers. This episode explores the psychological toll of inequality, the role of identity in resilience, and what leaders can do to build more inclusive, disaster-ready workplaces.

Find Dr. Johnson here: https://business.wsu.edu/directory/hana.johnson/

Find the paper here: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10869-025-10064-1

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 actionable insights on how to “fire your work self,” respect boundaries, and lead with empathy. Whether you're a frontline manager or a C-suite exec, this episode offers a roadmap to healthier, more human workplaces.

You can find Workr Beeing here: https://workrbeeing.com/about/, or on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/company/workrbeeing/

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, and the importance of inclusive organizational culture. Dr. McGonagle also introduces the vivid and relatable Spoon Theory and shares evidence-based interventions to make work better for everyone including people living with chronic health conditions. Whether you're an HR professional, manager, researcher, or someone living with a chronic condition, this episode offers actionable insights and compassionate strategies for creating healthier, more equitable workplaces.

You can find Dr. McGonagle here (https://www.linkedin.com/in/alyssa-mcgonagle/) and here (https://orgscience.charlotte.edu/directory/alyssa-mcgonagle/).

You can order her book here (https://global.oup.com/academic/product/chronic-health-conditions-and-work-9780197660638?cc=us&lang=en&), using the code AUFLY30 for a discount.

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 assumptions in workplace psychology.

We discuss:

* The surprising power of small financial fluctuations

* Why lump-sum bonuses might not reduce stress as expected

* How macroeconomic policies intersect with organizational behavior

* Actionable strategies for managers to support financially stressed employees

Whether you're an I-O psychologist, HR leader, or just curious about the psychology of money at work, this episode offers data-driven insights and practical takeaways for improving employee well-being.

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 safety risks in high-hazard industries

* The resurgence of organized labor in the U.S. (Starbucks, UAW, Volkswagen)

* The intersection of IO psychology and labor movements

* Policy gaps and the role of unions in climate change and mental health advocacy

Whether you're an IO psychologist, HR professional, union member, or just curious about the future of work, this episode offers rich insights into how organized labor is adapting to global challenges—and why researchers should pay attention.

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You can find the paper here: https://scholar.google.com/citations?view_op=view_citation&hl=en&user=Z38glpIAAAAJ&sortby=pubdate&citation_for_view=Z38glpIAAAAJ:iH-uZ7U-co4C

You can find Dr. Vesper here: https://www.uni-saarland.de/lehrstuhl/koenig/personen/denise-vesper-msc.html

You can find Dr. Zickar here: https://www.bgsu.edu/arts-and-sciences/psychology/people/mzickar.html

Keywords: labor unions, occupational health, worker safety, IO psychology, strikes, union research, workplace well-being, global labor movements, climate change, mental health, industrial-organizational psychology, union advocacy

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 workplace model and calls for inclusive, evidence-based change.

You can find her paper here: https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2026-24197-002

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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 mindfulness was 🔥?) to systemic, policy-driven change. We also look ahead to the next 100 episodes: AI, women’s health, gig work, and the future of workplace regulation.

Plus, we celebrate with a Healthy Work trivia game—play along and see how well you know the pod.

Thanks for being part of this journey. Whether you’ve been here since Episode 1 or just joined us, we’re so glad you’re part of the Healthy Work community.

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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 respond to employee mental health issues.

Read their paper here: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s41542-023-00171-x

You can find them here:

Leslie Hammer: https://www.ohsu.edu/people/leslie-b-hammer-phd

Jennifer Dimoff: https://www.jenniferdimoff.com/

Cynthia Mohr: https://www.pdx.edu/profile/cynthia-mohr

Shalene Allen: https://www.k-state.edu/psych/about/people/allen/