Corporate mindfulness training programs gain traction
Workplace mindfulnesstraining programs can help workers manage stress and improve memory and focus. Training can be delivered in a number of ways including in-person and online, and according to a 2016 study by the National Business Group on Health and Fidelity Investments, 22 percent of companies have mindfulness training programs. Plus, 21 percent of them are considering adding one in 2017.
Companies want to improve productivity and performance. They also want to lower healthcare costs and absenteeism. But David Brendel wrote in the Harvard Business Review that companies should proceed with caution as they consider mindfulness training. “At times, it appears that we are witnessing the development of a ‘cult of mindfulness’ that, if not appropriately recognized and moderated, may result in an unfortunate backlash against it,” Brendel wrote.