headshot of Michael Timmes
Michael Timmes.
  • HR consultant Michael Timmes says mental health and burnout are key factors in employee satisfaction.
  • He recommends pulse surveys and scaling questions to help work through employee engagement issues.
  • Longer term, developing empathetic leadership will help organizations greatly improve morale.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with human-resources consultant Michael Timmes about keeping employees motivated. The following has been edited for length and clarity.