Meaning Articles

Why Searching for Meaning at Work Accelerates Burnout

Andrew Badham - 2026-08-05 09:45:40

For years, corporate wellness initiatives have emphasized purpose as a primary defense against employee turnover and emotional exhaustion. Organizational leaders are frequently advised to help employees "find their why." However, psychological research reveals a crucial nuance: while having a sense of meaning protects against exhaustion, actively searching for meaning while depleted significantly increases burnout. A three-year longitudinal study published in the Journal of Health Psychology... Read more

Creating Meaning at work and why that matters

Andrew Badham - 2018-11-09 15:39:08

It’s certainly not a new idea that people have a desire to work for more than just their paycheques, that they need some motivation to pursue beyond the prospect of a raise. Of course, quantifying just how much people are willing to pursue meaning over salary is no easy task; nevertheless, a team from Better Up decided to take on the challenge. What they found was surprising. The average respondent was willing to part with 23% of their future earnings for more guaranteed meaning on a day... Read more