Ep149 - Quiet Cracking and the Supercycle of Change with Dr Michelle McQuaid
From Well Workplaces by Tom Bosna
November 3, 2025 · 33 min · Season 11 · Episode 8
About this episode
Tom Bosna speaks with Dr. Michelle McQuaid about the hidden crisis of 'quiet cracking' in the workplace and its implications for employee wellbeing.
In this episode of Well Workplaces, host Tom Bosna speaks with Dr. Michelle McQuaid about her 2025 Workplace Report from the Change Lab, which highlights the phenomenon of 'quiet cracking' - a hidden crisis where workers seem to cope, but are silently struggling with financial and emotional strain. The discussion covers the prevalence of quiet cracking, especially among young workers, its causes, and its impact as a precursor to burnout. Dr. McQuaid introduces the concept of workplace civility as a buffer against stress and discusses the role of technology and AI in workplaces. She also presents the HEART Framework as a practical solution for leaders to manage change and improve workplace wellbeing. The conversation emphasises the need for emotionally and socially attuned communication to foster trust and better performance in organisations. Resources : https://www.michellemcquaid.com/co-creating-change/ https://www.michellemcquaid.com/ Previous Well Workplaces Episode Ep.134 - Good Girl Conditioning in the Workplace with Dr Michelle McQuaid
People in this episode
Host: Tom Bosna
Guest: Dr. Michelle McQuaid
Topics covered
- quiet cracking
- workplace wellbeing
- burnout
- workplace civility
- technology in workplaces
- emotional strain
Keywords
- quiet cracking
- workplace report
- emotional strain
- burnout
- workplace civility
- HEART Framework
- technology
- AI in workplaces
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Change Lab, HEART Framework, Well Workplaces
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