MIT Sloan Management Review Article on Helping Others at Work Without Burning Out

Creating a culture of helping in the workplace is beneficial for both organizations and employees. Companies are more productive and profitable when their employees help one another, and research has shown the many benefits of workplace helping, including higher morale and job satisfaction for both the help provider and receiver.

However, despite their best intentions, employees may sometimes fail to help one another due to a range of factors, including a lack of technical skills and social connections, time famine, and burnout. Many employees want to pitch in for their colleagues but may simply lack the time or energy to successfully follow through with their helping efforts.

About the Author

Yu Tse Heng is an assistant professor of commerce at the University of Virginia’s McIntire School of Commerce. Ryan Fehr is a professor and the Michael G. Foster Faculty Fellow at the University of Washington’s Foster School of Business.

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