Dr. Laura Linnan Featured in Washington Post Podcast on the Importance of Brain Health in the Workplace

Dr. Laura Linnan, Professor and Director of the Carolina Center for Healthy Work Design and Worker Well-Being, was interviewed in a Washington Post podcast along with leading experts in epidemiology, neurology, and psychiatry. She spoke about why supporting brain health is imperative for both employees and employers, and what the Carolina Center for Healthy Work Design and Worker Well-Being is doing to address these concerns.

Key Highlights from the Podcast

• Brain health is foundational to workplace success. It fuels focus, decision-making, and problem-solving, driving higher productivity, creativity, and innovation.
• Employees with better mental health are less likely to experience anxiety or depression, which are leading causes of absenteeism and reduced performance.
• Investing in brain health benefits businesses. Organizations that support employee mental well-being see improved performance and more economic growth.
• The Carolina Center for Healthy Work Design and Worker Well-Being focuses on chronic disease prevention and addresses key systemic factors—like job pace, work design, culture, noise exposure, and opportunities for movement—to promote healthier work environments.
• Total Worker Health^® is an approach that encourages employers to implement policies and practices that support physical and mental health on the job.
• Education alone isn’t enough. Education on how to improve health behaviors that contribute to mental health does not address systemic issues. Improving brain health requires collaboration with employers to focus on inadequate workplace conditions that contribute to poor mental and cognitive health.
• The Carolina Center also offers a certificate program to train future leaders in identifying and improving the workplace factors that impact worker well-being across all sectors.
• Essential workers, especially clinicians, faced unique challenges during COVID-19. While many worked from home, these frontline workers, often with fewer benefits, could not. The Carolina Center is prioritizing their needs and examining the long-term impact on their well-being.