Global study reveals that the progressive work model improves work-life balance and reduces burnout in diverse worker populations, suggesting a shift from traditional practices.
Worker burnout is a widespread global issue, worsened by long commutes, traffic, and the ongoing pressures of the traditional 9-to-5. This piece introduces the Progressive Work Model (PWM), a framework empirically designed to reduce burnout. Centered on the worker, the PWM is comprised of choice-facilitated autonomy, flexible work practices, psychological safety climate, and work-life programs. While each component already exists in practice—the PWM unites them to meet the work-life balance needs of today's workforce. A global study of 8,484 workers across 81 countries, and six continents shows that the PWM would reduce burnout across diverse cultural contexts, offering organizations a practical way to move beyond traditional work norms and better support the modern worker.
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Doss et al. (2025) studied this question.
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