Kathleen Hogan, Chief People Officer & EVP, Human Resources at Microsoft, states "Data tells us loud and clear that employees are struggling. Between the pandemic, social and global unrest, and the growing mental health challenges, we’re facing a worldwide crisis of human energy. Addressing the Human Energy Crisis is a business imperative, and one that will require us to think in new ways about employee wellbeing and impact, so that we create environments where employees can thrive."

There is a need to support and measure employee wellness.

Areas of focus:

• How do we foster connection in a hybrid world?

• Processes and procedures

• What can be done to foster connection throughout our work week

• i.e., what technology or tools can be used, how can you build a culture of recognition?

• Creating meaningful gatherings - what brings teams together?

• What trends are we seeing around workplace gatherings?

The final deliverables should take the form of:

• A final report - based on the 4 areas of focus
• A 30-minute presentation

Students can connect directly with the employer for mentorship and supervision throughout the project.

Below are some helpful articles/podcasts as some initial pre-reading:

• Why Leaders Can't Ignore the Human Energy Crisis
• Mental Health Has Become a Business Imperative
• Why Every Leader Needs to Worry About Toxic Culture
• Toxic Culture Is Driving the Great Resignation