5 things to know this week: Wasted work time, brown noise, holiday stress and more
Here are 5 things to know about work this week.
Hello, and welcome to WorkLife’s 5 things newsletter. In this weekly newsletter, we will spotlight five things to know about the latest issues affecting modern workplaces.
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1. Workers lash out when others waste their time on the clock
Unnecessary meetings, fruitless discussions about non-priority tasks and other unwelcome, lengthy conversations with coworkers aren’t just a time suck. They harm productivity and engagement by souring employees’ moods and driving resentful behaviors, new research suggests.
When workers perceive their time on the clock is being wasted, they lash out by gossiping, working slower, being blunt with clients or customers and taking unnecessary breaks, according to new research from Temple University.
2. ‘Brown noise’ to enhance focus: Inside a neurodiverse-friendly office
Stepping into Understood’s Manhattan office is a sensory experience — just like any other office. Except it’s uniquely fitted for neurodiverse staff, offering a range of lighting and sound options, visible accessibility features and other intentional elements to make the space more comfortable for everyone.
“We started with the concept of when you walk in the door, it should feel different. You should have a lower cognitive load when you walk around,” said Nathan Friedman, co-president and chief marketing officer at Understood.
3. Holiday stress is killing your employees — here’s how to help them
With another holiday season in full swing, employers face a familiar challenge: helping their workforce navigate the complex blend of year-end pressures and holiday expectations.
The stakes are higher than many leaders realize. Recent data from employee recognition program Workhuman shows that while the season brings joy and celebration, it also generates significant stress for employees, particularly around finances, work-life balance and performance expectations.
4. ‘I hate HR too!’ Epic distrust wrecks employee relations with people managers
It’s a reality for many HR people: Most of their employees — the very people they advocate for — don’t want anything to do with them. That’s according to resume and career service MyPerfectResume’s 2025 State of the Workforce Report, which points to a growing crisis of confidence in workplace relations, one that should concern HR professionals as they close out one year and set the course for another.
Based on responses from 1,000 recruiters and job seekers, the survey paints a worrisome picture of the workplace, one where fear, burnout and mistrust are prominent themes. For HR professionals, perhaps the most salient finding is that 85% of workers hesitate to bring them their work-related issues, citing fears around confidentiality and retribution.
5. Beyond burnout: Why changing how we talk about employee well-being could help solve it
What we commonly think of as burnout actually encompasses five distinct states: burned out, engaged, disengaged, ineffective and overextended. And while the burnout rate of companies is routinely estimated to be as high as 80% — with one recent study putting it at 88% — she has determined that true burnout affects just 15% of organizations.
The distinction isn’t just academic; it could be elemental to understanding and ensuring the employee’s well-being and their place in the organization.
Why? Because different interventions are used for those who are literally burned out versus those who are merely taxed. While overextended employees might require better boundaries and workload management, those suffering from burnout typically require more drastic solutions, such as a change in job, company or boss.
Color by names and numbers
82% of HR leaders agree that managers are not equipped to lead change, and 77% report that their employees are fatigued from all the change.
Elsewhere in Digiday Media
Check out some of Digiday Media’s other stories on the future of work over the past week:
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This newsletter was curated by Courtney Marabella, senior social media/audience manager for Digiday. Let us know what you think, or what you hope to see more of, by dropping us a note at courtney@digiday.com.