Why Traditional HR is Failing: The Rise of Well-Being-First Workplaces
- Heather Fowler
- 1 day ago
- 2 min read
Is Traditional HR Holding Your Business Back?
In a rapidly changing world of work, traditional HR practices are no longer enough. Compliance-heavy processes, rigid performance reviews, and one-size-fits-all policies are driving disengagement and burnout. Meanwhile, employees are craving flexibility, purpose, and support
At Mary Jane's People, we've helped companies evolve by putting employee well-being at the center of business strategy—and the results speak for themselves.
Why Traditional HR Is Failing
1. Prioritizing Policies Over People
Legacy HR systems often focus more on protecting the business than empowering its people. When policies take priority over connection and trust, companies suffer from high turnover, low morale, and a lack of innovation.
2. Outdated Performance Management
Annual reviews, forced rankings, and standardized evaluations do little to support growth. Employees today want real-time feedback, meaningful development opportunities, and autonomy in how they work.
3. Superficial Wellness Initiatives
Offering yoga or meditation apps without addressing systemic issues like burnout, inflexible work structures, or lack of recognition isn't enough. Wellness can't live on the sidelines—it must be built into how the business operates.
The Shift: What Is a Well-Being-First Workplace?
A well-being-first workplace is one where HR isn't just a compliance function—it's a strategic lever for growth. These workplaces are built on Self-Determination Theory, which emphasizes three universal psychological needs:
Autonomy
Employees are trusted to make decisions and have control over their work.
Competency
Teams are supported with ongoing development, training, and recognition.
Relatedness
Strong relationships and meaningful connections are encouraged at every level.
At Mary Jane's People, we embed these principles across HR, operations, leadership, and culture to create workplaces where people thrive—and businesses grow.
The ROI of Well-Being in HR
The numbers are clear:
Companies with high well-being scores see 41% lower absenteeism
Employees who feel supported are 4x more likely to stay
Organizations focused on engagement see 21% higher profitability (Gallup)
By transforming HR into a human-first, results-driven function, our clients experience:
Lower turnover and recruitment costs
Greater innovation and collaboration
Stronger customer relationships
Higher employee satisfaction and loyalty
How Mary Jane's People Can Help
We specialize in designing HR strategies that align people and profitability, including:
Strategic Culture & Operations Development
Autonomy-based Leadership Training through The Work Bench
Custom HR Policy Audits and Compliance Overhauls
Employee Well-Being & Community Engagement Initiatives
All of this is delivered using the Self-Determination Theory framework, backed by over 50 years of research.
Ready to Make the Shift?
If you're relying on traditional HR systems in a modern workplace, it's time for a change. Let's build a workplace where people—and performance—thrive.
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This post was written by Heather Nicole Fowler, The Well-Being Architect™ and founder of Mary Jane's People.
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