Professor Kathleen Vangronsvelt opened the first session of the learning network on workplace well-being with a unique perspective, drawing inspiration from the Blue Zones, regions where people live healthier and happier lives. Innovations often arise by applying knowledge from one domain to another.

1,700 Flemish workers expose their political views. It turns out that our well-being in the workplace is inextricably linked to our voting behavior.

On June 9th, both the regional, federal and European elections in Belgium will be held. And if that’s not enough “voting” for you, in the upcoming weeks more than 7,000 companies in Belgium will hold social elections. Over 2 million employees are expected to vote for their representatives in the Works Council and/or the Committee for Prevention and Protection at Work (CPPW). These representatives will contribute to workplace participation and engagement over the next four years. But what about employee participation? Are unions still the right approach? And is there a connection between voting preference in political elections and attitudes toward social elections?

More and more companies are starting to pay attention to the mental health of their employees. Yet almost half (48%) of Belgian executives believe that employees with mental health problems can bring their colleagues down emotionally. That's according to new research from Antwerp Management School. Moreover, a quarter of them (24%) would not hire someone with a history of mental health problems.

It is crucial that well-being policy is approached holistically, with fruit and yoga being just a part of a broader culture of well-being and care for employees.

Four domains influence employee well-being: societal context, private context, personality factors, and work context. Employers can primarily influence the work context, which encompasses energy, essential needs, potential, and reciprocity. This provides opportunities to enhance employee well-being by reducing adverse factors and creating stimulating environments.

The significance of corporate sustainability reporting is increasing, driven by EU CSRD regulations. It underscores the imperative for companies to authentically acknowledge and mitigate their social and ecological footprints. Compliance with CSRD entails comprehensive reporting across diverse domains, mandating rigorous risk assessment and transparency. Dr. Jan Beyne, sustainability expert, offers essential tips for effective reporting.

Though many may still think of the maritime sector as an oil tanker rather than a speedboat, in reality the industry’s transformation is running at top speed, making full use of innovative digital technologies. And though many may still think of the maritime sector as a man’s world, in reality, well, they have a point … Women in the maritime sector are still highly underrepresented, especially at management level. But not for long, if you ask Céline Mortier and Prof. Christa Sys, two leading ladies of the maritime industry in Belgium.

The term “toxic leadership” is all over the news these days, most recently, e.g., in the articles about Plopsaland. But what is toxic leadership? In the news, it is often associated with “transgressive behavior” or “a strict level of control”. The question is: when do you cross the line? When does something completely legit such as holding an employee accountable for underachieving, suddenly become “transgressive”? And control is a fundamental part of management, so when does it become excessively strict, leading to burn-out?