Workplace mindfulness: fundamental issues for research and practice

ABSTRACT

In organisational scholarship, there is a general understanding that mindfulness training programs (MTP) can guide employees’ cognitive and psychological processes and influence their decisions and actions in everyday life. Many organisations who care for the wellbeing and development of employees are adopting MTP as a tool to improve employees’ functions such as their health and performance. In this research note, some of the key issues concerning mindfulness theory and practice are highlighted. First, multiple perspectives on mindfulness exist in the literature and also the boundaries between secular and non-secular practices of mindfulness are unclear. To extend the theory and practice of mindfulness, it is important to comprehend the concept of mindfulness. Second, MTP can be costly rather than beneficial in some working conditions. The managers might need to understand the risk related to the negative consequences of MTP. Third, sustainability of mindfulness practices for employees in a post-training context might be challenging. Managers might need to develop and maintain a conducive post-training work environment that encourages the employees’ mindfulness practices at work. Overall, this research note suggests research directions for management scholars and informs the organisational leaders’ and managers’ decisions concerning the incorporation of MTP in organisations for employees’ wellbeing and development.

KEYWORDS:

• Mindfulness training program
• VUCA
• secular mindfulness

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Wahab Shahbaz

Wahab Shahbaz is a PhD scholar at Massey University, Auckland. His research interest includes workplace mindfulness, positive organisational behaviour, employees' well-being and productivity.

Jane Parker

Jane Parker is a Professor of Employment Relations and HRM at the School of Management, Massey University (New Zealand). She hasauthored multiple books, chapters, articles and commissioned reports, including for the International Labour Organisation and the European Foundation for the improvement of Living and Working Conditions. Jane is an editorial board member of Human Relations, editorial advisory board member of Employee Relations, co-editor in chief of Labour and Industry: A journal of the social and economic relations of work, and co-director of the Massey People, Organisations, Work and Employment Research (MPOWER) group. She is currently researching the living wage, gender equity in the New Zealand public service, transdisciplinary research processes, and social movement unionism.