The Ethics of Staff Well-being
In the humanitarian sector, staff well-being is often framed as a best practice, a nice-to-have that signals good organizational culture. But it’s far more than that.
Caring for staff is not optional. It’s an ethical responsibility, one rooted in the same values and duty of care that drive our work with the communities we serve.
Beyond Perks and Wellness Weeks
Too often, staff well-being is reduced to perks: wellness webinars, occasional mental health days, or an inspirational email during high-stress periods. While well-intentioned, these gestures can fall short if the underlying work environment remains unsustainable.
Ethical well-being starts with ensuring that the way we operate does not cause harm.
Well-being as a Rights Issue
Staff have the right to work in conditions that support their health and dignity. This means organizations must:
Prevent harm by addressing psychosocial risks.
Ensure equity in access to resources and support.
Uphold transparency in decisions that impact workloads and security.
Respond to harm with timely, compassionate action.
In this framing, well-being is not charity — it’s justice.
The Power Dynamics at Play
Well-being is inseparable from power. Who decides workloads? Who sets priorities? Who gets to say “enough” without repercussions?
Ethical leadership means recognizing where power imbalances create harm and working to redress them. It means making staff care as important as program delivery.
Why This Matters Now
In times of crisis or change, staff well-being is often the first thing to be deprioritized. But that’s precisely when it matters most. If we fail to protect and support staff in these moments, we undermine the very mission we claim to serve.
Raising the Standard
Ethics in staff care means holding ourselves accountable, not just to donors and communities, but to our own people. It means embedding care into policies, leadership expectations, and operational decisions, so it’s part of the system, not an add-on.
Holding space with care and solidarity — here’s to staying whole, together,
~ Kate
Thanks for reading The Olive Pages: Fieldnotes on care, clarity, and staying whole
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KRC provides coaching, psychosocial support, and organizational consulting to humanitarian professionals and mission-driven organizations worldwide. Based in lived experience and trauma-aware care, our work helps clients navigate burnout, moral injury, organizational change, and career transitions — while staying human in the process.