Unnecessary Suffering with Kate McNeill

Some suffering at work is part of being challenged, learning and growing. But how much of it is actually necessary?In this episode, we look at the friction, expectations and ways of working that can contribute to burnout and ask what could change if workplaces took the time to understand what’s really causing people to struggle.Welcome to Under the Rug at Work, where we shine light on the things that are normally swept under the rug. On this episode, our Founder and Chief Courage Officer, Nicole Turnbull, chats with Kate McNeill about reducing unnecessary suffering at work.Kate is the founder of Kate McNeill Consulting, also known as the Burnout Lady. She runs workshops and programs focused on preventing and addressing burnout, with burnout and psychosocial health and safety the two main areas of her current work. Kate brings together her policy background, psychological research and lived experience to help organisations understand what’s going on for them and identify possible solutions.Kate shares how workplace expectations and ways of working can contribute to unnecessary suffering, from the conditions that lead to burnout to the extra friction neurodiverse workers can experience. Drawing on her own lived experience, she discusses masking, workplace accommodations and why the default way of doing things doesn’t necessarily work for everyone.Nicole and Kate also explore changing expectations across generations and why making time for genuine conversations can help workplaces better understand what people need.In this episode, they cover:- What contributes to burnout and unnecessary suffering at work- Neurodiversity, workplace accommodations and masking- Changing expectations of work across generations- Why consultation and conversation matterListen to the full conversation on the Under the Rug at Work podcast, available now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTube. Don’t forget to subscribe!Connect with Kate:⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠Website