Welcome to the 306th episode of the award-winning Diverse Minds podcast! In this episode, I’m challenging the superficial fluff of modern corporate wellbeing programmes. Highlighting why yoga mats won’t fix burnout and what is really driving employee exhaustion.
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In today’s show on Yoga Mats Won’t Fix Burnout: The Real Root Causes of Employee Exhaustion
- 00:56 – Why corporate yoga classes don’t contribute to systemic change.
- 01:33 – What burnout really is: WHO definition and Mental Health UK’s 2026 report findings.
- 02:49 – The impact and legal risks of burnout in the UK.
- 05:26 – A seminal case in UK law centred on burnout and discrimination.
- 09:16 – What really needs to shift to eliminate burnout in workplaces.
Quotes on Yoga Mats Won’t Fix Burnout: The Real Root Causes of Employee Exhaustion
- Organisations will say to me, ‘Oh, we have yoga and mindfulness classes.’ Great, but how is this making systemic change and really supporting people’s burnout?
- Nine in ten adults (91%) reported experiencing high or extreme pressure in the past year, and one in five (20%) have taken time off due to stress-related mental health challenges.
- We must rethink our approach to systemic change. As the saying goes, a stitch in time saves nine.
- We really need to look at the root cause of employee exhaustion in order to shift the system in a meaningful way.
Resources for Yoga Mats Won’t Fix Burnout: The Real Root Causes of Employee Exhaustion
- Episode 108: What’s the Big Deal with Cultural Appropriation?
- Episode #114: Identifying and Combatting Burnout
- Managing stress, burnout and fatigue in health and social care
- Ms R Wright-Turner’s seminal case
- How stress and burnout will shape the workplace in 2026
- Understanding Burnout in the Workplace — Why It Matters for Businesses and How to Address It
- Mental Health UK: Burnout
- An Employer’s Guide to Preventing Burnout in the Workplace
- Episode #305: Your D&I Strategy is a PR Stunt: Here’s how to fix it
- Episode #304: South Asian Women and Burnout with Neelu Kaur
- Join my Mailing List and receive a white paper on mental health and inclusion here
- Check out my TEDx talk: The Connection between Culture, Race and Mental Health
- Leave me a message on my SpeakPipe
Work with me
Have a look at my online work-life balance course on Thinkific. You can access it here: http://bit.ly/DMMHPONC
One-hour focused Sessions £250 1-2-1
Power Hour Sessions for Organisations
Complete the form to discuss your training needs: https://forms.gle/hgnYtmTu33Zeem489
Check out my coaching FAQs or learn more about how 1:1 coaching can support your wellbeing.
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Remember to tune in next week, where I’ll bring you more insights on mental health and inclusion.
