E10. Corporate Wellness Theater

We’ve all seen the emails that start with "Now more than ever, we need to talk about wellness." But whose problem is it really?

IN THIS EPISODE

Lars and Aparna are joined by Hebba Youssef, Chief People Officer at Workweek and founder of the "I Hate It Here" newsletter. We’re digging into the $60 billion workplace wellness industry to ask: Are meditation apps and sound baths actually helping, or are they just cheap bandaid solutions that allow companies to avoid fixing structural problems? Hebba shares her raw experience navigating grief and EAPs, the dark side of workplace "weight loss challenges," and why "burnout" is often just a corporate rebrand for workplace depression.

THE QUESTION WE'RE SITTING WITH

Why are wellness programs being used more by managers and not individual contributors? And is it a "benefit" if doesn't change how people experience work?

TAKE THIS WITH YOU

• The "CPO of the People" Standard: Why tiered benefits (where executives get better care than hourly or salaried workers) are a moral system set up to fail.
• Destigmatize the Calendar: Follow the lead of founders who put therapy sessions publicly on their calendars to signal that taking care of yourself is part of the job.
• Exhaustion is Data: Reframe your burnout. If the system is making you sick, the problem isn't your "lack of resilience"—it’s a lack of reciprocity.

RESOURCES MENTIONED

• I Hate It Here — Hebba Youssef’s HR newsletter - https://hateithere.co/
• Maintenance Phase — A podcast exploring the flaws in the wellness industry - https://www.maintenancephase.com/
• Minda Harts — Author of The Memo, discussed regarding trust in the workplace - https://www.mindaharts.com/

CONNECT WITH US

Visit us at https://www.circleback.club/

Aparna on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/aparnarae; aparnarae.com

Lars on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/lars-gallien; https://www.larsgallien.com/