329. Toxic or Just a Bad Fit? How to Tell the Difference at Work with Cait Donovan [Fried: The Burnout Podcast]

Is Burnout an Individual or Organisational Problem? (Feed Drop: Fried: The Burnout Podcast)

In this special summer feed drop, we’re taking a short break from our regular format to bring you a conversation from a show we genuinely love and listen to: Fried: The Burnout Podcast, hosted by the brilliant Cait Donovan!

In this episode, Cait puts our very own Chartered Occupational Psychologist, Leanne Elliott, in the hot seat. They dive deep into the messy, nuanced reality of workplace culture, systemic stress, and employee wellbeing. Cait doesn't let Leanne off lightly, challenging her on everything from the validity of psychometric tests to where manager training fails and where individual responsibility ends and organizational responsibility begins.

If you’ve ever wondered why workplace stress persists despite wellness initiatives, or how we can build truly supportive work environments, this honest, no-bullshit discussion is for you.

🎙 Key Takeaways

The System vs. The Individual: Burnout isn't just about an individual's resilience or biology, nor is it purely an organizational failure. Sustainable workplace mental health requires looking at both the person and the system they operate in.

Middle Managers Are Set Up to Fail: Managers have the single biggest impact on employee engagement and mental health, yet over 90% of new managers receive zero formal training. We must equip leaders with prosocial skills, empathy, and listening tools.

Culture is Defined by What You Tolerate: From micro-incivilities to vague role expectations, toxicity often starts in subtle daily behaviors. True psychological safety means creating an environment where friction can be addressed safely before it turns toxic.

🕒 Timestamps & Chapter Markers

00:00 – Introduction: Welcome to Truth, Lies & Work & Feed Drop Announcement

02:00 – Leanne Joins Fried: Being Real on LinkedIn & Ethical Gray Zones

08:00 – Occupational Psychology vs. Medical Science in Burnout Research