Foreword xiii

Acknowledgments xv

About the Authors xix

Introduction: The Elephant Whisperer 1

Part I Slow-moving Storm: a History Of Warnings and Apathy 15

Chapter 1 A Slow-Moving Storm: The Existential Threat to Business and the Economy 17

Chapter 2 The Rainbow in the Storm: Medical Science Meets Building Science 30

Chapter 3 Storm Damage: The Cost of Forgetting 42

Chapter 4 Stress: Portrait of a Killer 53

Part II Is There Shelter From the Storm? a Search for Wellness 65

Chapter 5 In Search of Wholeness 67

Chapter 6 Why Happiness Before Health 78

Chapter 7 Where’s the Data? Inconvenient Truths 92

Chapter 8 The Mystery of Hospitality: Experiencing the Human Touch 109

Part III Magical Nudges: the Road To Health and Well-being 125

Chapter 9 Nudge Thinking: How Small Things Lead to Big Results 127

Chapter 10 The Healthy Building Nudge: The Invisible Power of the Workplace 141

Chapter 11 The Financial Nudge: The Return on Humans (ROH) 157

Chapter 12 Becoming Your Best Self: Rest, Engagement, Boundaries, and Deep Work 169

Part IV Haven in a Heartless World: the Need for Safe Places 183

Chapter 13 How They Did It: Creating Ecosystems of Care 185

Chapter 14 Courageous Leaders and a Culture of Care 201

Chapter 15 The MeTEOR Story: Extreme Ownership 216

Chapter 16 Starting a Movement: How Second-Chair Leadership Can Change a Company 227

Chapter 17 Haven in a Heartless World: The Promise of a Good Workplace 245

Appendix A The Well MindShift Core Team 256

Appendix B Well MindShift Participants 263

Appendix C Personal Story Template 267

Notes 269

Index 279

Work is the number one stress inducer and stress can drive chronic disease. As chronic disease continues to rise, its associated costs both in human and medical terms are a direct threat to the survival of business. The Healthy Workplace Nudge offers a guide to reducing stress and the related health costs by offering the strategies for creating cultures of care.

In this book, the authors challenge the typical ways in which most companies deliver their wellness programs and shows why so many wellness efforts fail to improve the lives of employees. Throughout this must-have resource, the authors report on the research from the Well MindShift project on 100 large organizations that have tackled the problems of employee health costs and disengagement in four innovative ways. These forward-thinking companies know that: happiness leads to health and performance, behavioral economics lead to healthy employee behavior, a healthy culture is essential, and healthy buildings are a must.

The Healthy Workplace Nudge is filled with vivid stories of healthy organizations from various industries across the country. The stories are not from lofty executives high on the hill but ideas from serious, down-to-earth, tenacious, and healthy leaders who are curious, courageous, and caring. Their examples show how to implement the actionable strategies and approaches that can be put in place . . . right now. These leaders also reveal what it takes to retain a happy and productive pool of talent and cut unnecessary spending that will boost your bottom line.

The Healthy Workplace Nudge is the hands-on guide for creating a healthy environment where your employees and your organization can thrive.