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  • Inc. Magazine (Jun 2025)

    “It’s also due to broader macroeconomic issues, Buck noted. Millennials “might never achieve the level of economic stability that the Baby Boomer generation” did, she said. While Millennials are making “peace with the economic reality that they face,” they’re also starting to rethink their lives, wondering “‘How can I still do what I love? How can I still do things that light me up and find joy in my job?’”

    The data behind why Millennials are the most burned out generation - and what they’re doing about it.

  • Fortune Magazine (Apr 2025)

    “Leaders experiencing burnout may exhibit unusual-for-them irritability, short tempers, and impatience with employees and peers, and lead to decreased productivity, performance, creativity, and innovation among employees. And for leaders, it can have a ‘social contagion effect’ on the organization, said Phifer.”

    Learn exactly how much burnout is costing your organization - and your employees - in this piece.

  • HR Brew (Dec 2024)

    “HR professionals can help their folks, A, define what [activities light them up], and then, B, do a bit of job crafting to ensure individuals are reaching that 20%. You’re going to provide your folks with a great buffer against burnout,” Phifer said.

    The effects of work environment will continue to be a hotly-debated issue in 2025. Successful companies will do more than just help mitigate burnout for their hybrid workers, but also prevent it.

  • HR Brew (Aug 2024)

    “People pros can know if employees face systemic burnout if ‘the three dimensions of burnout,” cynicism, reduced efficacy, and exhaustion, are present,’ Phifer said.”

    Alongside Glassdoor Lead Economist Daniel Zhao, Leah provides insight into why such little progress has been made in addressing the burnout epidemic - and the steps leaders can immediately take to alleviate it.

  • Why I Left (Mar 2024)

    “The human energy crisis is different than burnout because burnout is typically something you experience over a finite amount of time. The human energy crisis is more akin to climate change.”

    Leah joins Brian Aquart on Season 3 of the ”Why I Left” podcast to discuss the connection between employee engagement, burnout, and how her personal journey illustrated the connection between both.

  • MinnPost (Sept 2023)

    “The third cause of human misery — poor-quality work — receives less investment, despite copious research illustrating the connection.”

    In this Labor Day op-ed, Leah explores the intersection of policy, politics, and the three components of “quality” work.

  • Minneapolis Star Tribune (June 2023)

    “I keep the definition simple for my exhausted and overwhelmed clients — burnout is the difference between your expectations and your reality.”

    Leah addresses why so many people avoid learning more about burnout, struggle to cope with it and what to do instead.

  • WFLA Daytime (Jan 2023)

    “Quiet thriving is the latest edition to the long list of words we’re using to describe our evolving relationship to work.”

    Leah speaks with Farron & Maggie of Daytime Tampa Bay, discussing why the latest addition to the expanding “quiet” vocabulary is her favorite one yet - and how you can practice it.

  • Todo Tampa Bay (Jan 2023)

    “La mejor manera de evitar el síndrome de agotamiento es pasar 20% de tu dia haciendo cosas que te gustan…que te llenan de energía.”

    In this Spanish-language interview, Leah discusses the concept of “quiet thriving” or prosperar en silencio. She shares tips for employees and managers to better understand what each individual needs thrive at work.

  • WCCO "The 4" (Dec 2022)

    “Gallup finds that actively disengaged workers experience more anger, sadness, stress and physical pain than unemployed people.”

    Leah returns to WCCO’s “The 4” to discuss how you can practice “quiet thriving” through practices like job crafting, making room for friendships and bringing play into the workplace.

  • Business Insider (Dec 2022)

    “You can't just power through burnout — you must take action to avoid derailing your personal or professional life.”

    Burnout can lead to a number of health issues and with 43% of Americans experiencing it, we've let it go on for too long. Through Business Insider, Leah shares her five-step plan to recognize and mitigate burnout.

  • Minneapolis Star Tribune (Oct 2022)

    “In periods of growth and unrest, people are desperate to label how they're feeling; perhaps we're clinging to an imperfect term that means something different to everyone.”

    Leah weighs in on the controversy surrounding “quiet quitting” and what we should focus on instead.

  • WCCO "The 4" (Sept 2022)

    “The fact that we have so many definitions for this one term illustrates how - as a society - we’re struggling to articulate how our relationships to work have changed.”

    Leah joins Erin & Jeff on WCCO’s “The 4” to discuss “quiet quitting” and what employers and employees can do to reengage with work.

  • Isanti-Chisago Star (May 2022)

    What makes this [WhyWork] system unique is that a vast majority of the engagement plans are different for each employee, rather than a “one-size-fits-all” approach.

    This Isanti-Chisago County Star covers the WhyWork presentation at the North65 Chamber of Commerce in Cambridge, MN.

  • Authority Magazine (Apr 2022)

    “Building work around employees’ unique life circumstances will increase engagement and retention.”

    WhyWork founder, Leah Phifer, sat down with Karen Mangia of Authority Magazine as part of their interview series on how employees and employers are reworking work together.

Emma Maher Emma Maher

What My Mini Aussie Taught Me About Work

I had no idea why so many people insisted that my mini Australian Shepherd 'needs a job'. When I found the answer, it revealed a lot about how we think about work and purpose.

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Emma Maher Emma Maher

The 2023 Word of the Year

The 2022 work trends like quiet quitting, quiet hiring, the Great Resignation and burnout can all be addressed through one (hard) thing.

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Emma Maher Emma Maher

The Missing Model

The world’s two largest economies are home to a population determined to do less. Here’s what businesses can do about it.

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Emma Maher Emma Maher

"I Told My Boss About You"

Most employees would rather improve their workplace than leave it. How do we know? The proof is in our referrals.

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Emma Maher Emma Maher

Introducing WhyWork

WhyWork’s founder shares the inspiration behind the process and why the #futureofwork is personal.

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