Unmuted Podcast | Episode #64
Topic: Empathy Without Absorption: How HR Can Stop Being the Office Therapist
Guest: Christine Vigna - Chief People Officer at Dejero
Guest LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christinemvigna/
Host: Jeff Waldman - Founder & HR Tech Evangelist at ScaleHR & SocialHRCamp
Episode Overview
HR professionals play a unique role inside organizations. They’re often the first line of support when employees are stressed, overwhelmed, or facing difficult personal and professional challenges. Offering empathy is part of the job, but the emotional weight that comes with it often goes unnoticed and unaddressed.
This has created a growing trend in the HR profession:
⚠️ Burnout
⚠️ Compassion fatigue
⚠️ HR leaders are questioning whether they want to stay in the field
In this episode, Christine Vigna joins us to talk openly about the emotional realities of HR and the urgent need to redefine what support looks like. Because while empathy is essential, HR cannot, and should not, absorb the emotional load of an entire organization.
We discuss:
Where the pressure on HR to act as “organizational therapists” really comes from. What healthy, sustainable empathy looks like. How HR professionals can set boundaries without abandoning employees. How leaders and culture influence, and often exacerbate HR’s emotional burden
👉 If you’re an HR professional feeling stretched thin, or a leader who wants to better support the people who support everyone else, this episode is a must-watch.
About Christine Vigna
Christine Vigna is an experienced People & Culture executive with over two decades of experience across technology, regulatory, and not-for-profit sectors. She currently serves as Chief People Officer at Dejero, a Canadian technology company, where she leads global People & Culture strategy, technical customer support, and continuous improvement programs. Alongside her corporate role, Christine has contributed 15 years of service on not-for-profit boards, bringing a thoughtful approach to governance and organizational development. She is committed to helping organizations and leaders thrive through purposeful culture, clear strategy, and effective leadership.
About ScaleHR
The Unmuted Podcast is powered by ScaleHR (https://goscalehr.com/), a rapidly growing company supporting emerging HR, Recruitment, and Work Tech startups and SMBs with brand awareness and lead generation.
Our flagship solution, Catalyst, blends influencer marketing, content strategy, and omnichannel distribution to help brands cut through the noise.
A brand-new ScaleHR website is launching in fall 2025.
📩 Connect with us: https://linkly.link/2BtHI
#Podcast #HR #Leadership #Burnout #PeopleAndCulture #FutureOfWork #HumanResources #EmployeeExperience #UnmutedPodcast
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