Ep 8 | Why Does It Feel So Wrong To Put Yourself Before Your Company?

Season 1, Episode 8: Why Does It Feel So Wrong to Put Yourself Before Your Company?

Episode Description:

Do you feel guilty taking a sick day—even when you're clearly not okay?

In this powerful episode of Why Does It Feel So Wrong to Be Human at Work?, hosts Pinaki Kathiari and Chris Lee dig deep into the tension between self-care and workplace expectations. From personal stories and mental health stigma to the evolution of wellness programs and HR policy, this episode is a full-circle look at why prioritizing your health can feel like betraying your company—and why that needs to change.

They explore:

• The history of mental health and burnout in the workplace
• How charismatic leadership and “hustle culture” can unintentionally harm employees
• Why “quiet quitting” and languishing are signs of deeper systemic problems
• The true role of HR—and why trust should be the foundation of policy
• How modern companies can embrace neurodiversity, vulnerability, and care
• What Severance, the Apple TV series, gets eerily right about work-life disconnect
• The leadership shift from performance management to relationship-centered culture

With real data, personal reflections, and a compelling call for empathy and reform, this episode will make you rethink how we define productivity, wellness, and success at work.

Timestamps:

• 00:00 – Why we work when we’re sick
• 05:00 – Commutes, workaholism, and the myth of sacrifice
• 10:00 – COVID and the rise of mental health awareness
• 15:00 – Burnout, WHO’s definition, and stigma through history
• 25:00 – Workplace wellness from 1950s to today
• 35:00 – Unlimited PTO, bereavement policies, and the flexibility gap
• 45:00 – HR's original intent vs. its future role
• 50:00 – Microsoft stats: 16+ hours/week on email and meetings
• 55:00 – Time poverty, emotional load, and the cost of being always-on
• 01:05:00 – Neurodiversity, inclusion, and embracing “different wiring”
• 01:10:00 – Relationships, trust, and the long-term ROI of care
• 01:15:00 – Final thoughts: A grandmother’s advice + the Harvard happiness study

 

Books & Resources:

• Harvard’s 80-Year Happiness Study – TED Talk by Robert Waldinger
• Microsoft Work Trends Index
• Bonus: Strong, Calm, Confident You by Kelsey Buckholtz

 

Mic-Drop Moments:

“Self-care is company care.”

“Fair isn’t always equal, and equal isn’t always fair.”

“If your employees aren’t well, your business isn’t well either.”

“Relationships—not revenue—should be your leading indicator.”

 

Connect with Us:

Pinaki Kathiari – LinkedIn | Local Wisdom

Chris Lee – LinkedIn | Gallagher Communication

 

Special Thanks:

Big love to the teams at Local Wisdom and Gallagher for leading by example and prioritizing humanity in the workplace. Special shout-out to Yelp for embedding mental health into leadership training—and to every company that’s doing the hard, human work.

 

Join the Conversation:

Have a story about taking time off, navigating burnout, or feeling torn between your job and your wellbeing? Share it with us on LinkedIn, TikTok, or email us at [e-mail]. Let’s normalize being human.

Special thanks to digital communication agency Local Wisdom (www.localwisdom.com) for really believing in our mission and making this podcast possible. 

If this episode made you think differently, laugh, or even yell out loud, we want to hear about it! Connect with us on LinkedIn, and don’t forget to rate, review, and share – maybe with your work bestie… or even your boss if you're feeling bold.

 

We also bring these important conversations to conferences and private workshops, creating space for real, meaningful change. Take the first step at .css-j9qmi7{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-webkit-flex-direction:row;-ms-flex-direction:row;flex-direction:row;font-weight:700;margin-bottom:1rem;margin-top:2.8rem;width:100%;-webkit-box-pack:start;-ms-flex-pack:start;-webkit-justify-content:start;justify-content:start;padding-left:5rem;}@media only screen and (max-width: 599px){.css-j9qmi7{padding-left:0;-webkit-box-pack:center;-ms-flex-pack:center;-webkit-justify-content:center;justify-content:center;}}.css-j9qmi7 svg{fill:#27292D;}.css-j9qmi7 .eagfbvw0{-webkit-align-items:center;-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;color:#27292D;}