Episode Details

Why are burnout rates still so high years after COVID, and what can leaders actually do about it?

In this episode of HR Unlocked, Lisa Oakley sits down with Professor Jarrod Haar, one of New Zealand’s leading workplace researchers, to explore burnout, workplace loneliness, leadership, wellbeing, and the future of work.

Drawing on decades of research and data collected across New Zealand workplaces, Jarrod shares why severe burnout continues to affect around one in five workers, the surprising role workplace loneliness plays in employee wellbeing, and how leaders can better manage workload, change, and performance pressures.

The conversation also explores AI, productivity, organisational culture, Māori perspectives on work, and the leadership behaviours that make the biggest difference to employee wellbeing.

This episode challenges many of the assumptions organisations make about performance and offers practical insights into creating healthier, more sustainable workplaces.

What You'll Learn

• Why burnout remains one of the biggest workplace challenges in New Zealand

• The connection between workplace loneliness and employee wellbeing

• How workload design and job creep contribute to burnout

• What leaders can do to identify and prevent burnout earlier

• Why productivity and long hours are not the same thing