The Future Of Less Work What Causes Angst at Work with Dr. Erin Eatough and Dr. Shonna Waters
What if the biggest risk to your organization isn’t burnout, disengagement, or even AI disruption—but a deeper, unnamed sense that something’s off?
In this episode of The Future of Less Work, host Nirit Cohen sits down with Dr. Erin Eatough and Dr. Shonna Waters, co-founders of Fractional Insights, to unpack the rising levels of workplace angst—a leading indicator of underperformance, turnover, and apathy that traditional engagement metrics fail to capture.
Together, they introduce the Angst Index, a framework grounded in organizational psychology and data, and explore how unmet human needs—security, significance, and growth—are quietly undermining talent strategy and business results. From psychological ergonomics to AI-enabled job design, this episode is a call to rethink not just how we work, but how we design work to support human thriving in a fast-changing world.
If you’re leading organizational change, navigating the implications of AI, or trying to close the gap between what people need and what work delivers—this conversation offers a strategic and deeply human lens on what comes next.
Guest Information:
Dr. Shonna Waters, Chief Executive Officer & Principal Advisor, Fractional Insights
An award-winning organizational psychologist and executive, Shonna is a recognized thought leader in HR, psychology, and business with over 100 articles, technical reports, book chapters, and books and over 100 conference talks, keynotes, and panels. With a background in consulting and executive leadership roles, Shonna has advised organizations on people strategy and transformation across various sectors. At BetterUp, she stood up and led teams in behavioral science, strategic partnerships and alliances, and executive advisory, driving research-backed insights to enhance organizational performance.
Link to full bio: https://www.fractionalinsights.ai/dr-shonna-waters
Dr. Erin Eatough, Chief Science Officer & Principal Advisor, Fractional Insights
An award-winning research psychologist, author, and consultant, Erin brings a wealth of experience in employee well-being, work-life integration, and leadership development. She has been recognized for her research in improving performance and thriving at work and in life, with over 100 articles and book contributions across academic and popular press outlets such as the Journal of Applied Psychology and MIT Sloan Management Review. As a former executive at BetterUp, Erin led Labs Go-to Market, where her team used behavioral science insights to drive revenue and strategic growth.
Link to full bio: https://www.fractionalinsights.ai/dr-erin-eatough
https://www.fractionalinsights.ai/
Chapters:
00:00 – What Is Workplace Angst and Why Should Leaders Care?
03:15 – How Angst Became a Workplace Signal
05:40 – Why Naming Angst Matters for Organizational Change
07:00 – What Are the Root Causes of Angst at Work?
08:40 – How Unmet Needs Undermine Engagement
10:00 – How Can Organizations Reduce Insecurity at Work?
11:30 – What Levers Help Resolve Employee Angst?
13:00 – How to Design Work for Transparency and Trust?
14:40 – How Mayo Clinic Used AI to Empower Frontline Workers
16:15 – What Is Psychological Ergonomics?
18:00 – Why Growth and Learning Are Psychological Needs
20:40 – Can Angst Predict Turnover Before It Happens?
21:45 – What Should CHROs Do First to Address Angst?
23:00 – Why Leaders and Frontline Workers See AI Differently
25:30 – What Hidden Signals Should Leaders Pay Attention To?
28:40 – Are We Designing a Future Where Humans Still Matter?