The Ethics of Unhealthy Leadership

Having been in HR for over 20 years I have seen my fair share of unhealthy leadership. And it is clear that unhealthy Leaders create unhealthy teams and it’s an ethical concern that isn’t talked about enough.

You know, the boss who was praised for achieving metrics that nearly drained the life out of the team?

The boss who makes leadership seem unattractive because you can tell work consumes their entire life, even if they technically have a family at home?

The boss with a fancy car and a fat bonus, but you wouldn’t trade places with them for the world because their lack of mental and physical health is obvious?

Are you that boss?

In 2025, it’s time to talk about it.

We often overlook how the way we manage ourselves and others (our health, mental well-being, and work habits) can be an ethical concern. But it’s time to unpack this and shine a light on it.

The importance of physical workplace protections is no longer news to us. Thanks to the industrial revolution, we know acronyms like DOL, OSHA, PPE, PTO, LOA, WC, IIPP, and WPVPP that represent the evolution of workplace wellbeing. And thankfully some of these now include mental health as a component.

Before the government stepped in, workplace safety was an ethical concern. Employers’ reputations were defined by how they treated their employees’ safety and health—yet even with obvious harm (even death), employers often resisted change until forced to do so by law. It’s hard to imagine, but many of the workplace protections that we naturally expect today have not always been in place

Fast forward to 2025. We're still grappling with workplace health, but now the concern isn’t about heavy machinery.  It’s about a different machine called Corporate America and the leaders who drive it. Today, our concern isn’t over losing a limb, the issues are hypertension, diabetes, cancer, adult-onset ADHD, depression, anxiety, and other chronic illnesses caused by lifestyle aka career.

While we don’t know when or if laws will be put in place to protect employees’ mental and physical health, we must have a conversation about the ethics at play.

Here’s the real question: How successful are we if it costs us our health—and the health of our employees?

Yes, you might hit your profit goals for the year, but at what cost?

• What’s the impact on medical premiums, life insurance, and workers' comp?

• How much are absenteeism, leaves of absence, turnover, underperformance, and poor employee relations costing the organization?

• What about the impact to brand reputation due employee and interview candidate reviews on Glassdoor, Teamblind and Inhersight?  

If, in the pursuit of success, we wind up unwell, when do we stop and acknowledge that the "American Dream" has turned into a nightmare?

These may seem like big questions, but they don’t require a board meeting or strategic plan to address. We can start with individual accountability. Leaders need to lead themselves before they lead others.

The first sign of leadership is the ability to lead ourselves. If success comes at the expense of your health, are you truly a leader—or are you a martyr?

Can you teach, guide or mentor your team to follow in your footsteps without sacrificing their well-being?

What’s the point of advanced degrees, certifications, or strategic meetings if the solution to corporate success is to work nights and weekends, skip lunches, double up on caffeine, and neglect family?

A wise woman once said, “how you gonna win, when you ain’t right within?”

As a leader, there are several ways to lead in a healthy and sustainable way.  Besides taking care of yourself at home by getting sufficient sleep, eating nourishing foods, enjoying friends, family and hobbies that bring you joy, here are some simple ways to start making a change:

• Set 25- and 50-minute meetings instead of 30 and 60 minutes

• No Friday meetings (or after 3p on Friday)

• Talk to your HR dept about trends and issues with employee health

• Schedule all after-hour emails for the next day

• Take lunch away from your desk

• Suggest healthier food options for company events

• 3 minutes stretch at the top of every 60 min meeting

• Use natural or full-spectrum lighting instead of harsh overhead lighting

• No after-hours calls

• No work or employee contact on weekends

• Encourage the quiet employees to speak up

• End your day on time

• Take a walk instead of more coffee after 2 p.m.

• Regularly show appreciation and give thanks

As an employee, you may not have leadership that creates a healthy work environment, but there are some ways that you can take your wellness into your own hands;

• Take lunch away from your desk

• Drink 8oz of water for every 30 minutes in a meeting

• Suggest healthier food options for company events

• Keep healthy food options on hand (fruit, nuts, protein shake/bar)

• End your day on time

• Clean or add joy to your workspace

• Take a walk instead of more coffee after 2 p.m.

• Play classical music while working

• Set a time to stand and/or stretch throughout the day

• Thank your peers and colleagues for their contributions

When you look at it, it doesn’t take much.  Let’s start with small steps toward healthy leadership that honors both our well-being and that of those we lead. 

The question to ask ourselves is “How can I be a healthy Leader in 2025?”

Welcome to Holistic Hustle, where we redefine success to honor our ambition, while prioritizing our well-being. True success is not just about what we achieve but how we feel while achieving it. It’s time. Let’s create a world where ambition and wellness go hand in hand.