Author: Joe Saunderson
Read Time: 5 minutes
September 17, 2025
Caring Too Much? The Burden Of Support
In early September, I had the pleasure of speaking with Katie Siemsen, a safety and wellbeing specialist dedicated to creating practical workplace health and safety solutions that genuinely support people, going beyond box ticking and checklists.
After her extensive experience on site, Katie has recently started her own consultancy - Empower Business Solutions. I was excited to talk with her and understand her point of view as well as hear her lived experiences.
Katie, right from the start of our chat, demonstrated her ability to articulate issues and tell stories that many would find uncomfortable delivering. She has a knack for being direct and to the point, as well as showing a vulnerability that instantly showcases her compassion and empathy.
Whilst we discussed many factors of workplace wellbeing, how companies can show up for their employees, ways we can create equality within the workplace as well as respecting people's differences - our conversation around caring for other people, trying to do a good job and showing up for colleagues hit home.
If there is one common theme for the people I speak with, it's that they are all looking to make a difference to people and make a positive change within the workplace. Often we overlook the burden that can be put on those who are at the coal face of an organisation.
These people are selflessly taking calls in the middle of the night, or on weekends, to support their colleagues and ensure they aren’t left feeling alone. They show up for others in ways that are unexpected for most people doing 9 - 5 jobs. What sort of strain does that put on their own relationships and mental health? - cue medical device flashbacks to out of hours phone calls I have either made, or received.
Chatting with Katie, it was clear she had experience with being unable to switch off on the care of others and I was really interested to understand how we can create cultures where everyone is in a position to feel supported, no matter what their role is.
Katie felt that we are moving towards a space where people can discuss their mental health, which she noted was a huge leap from the attitudes that existed a decade ago. Discussions on mental health and not feeling ok, in her mind had become normalised to a point where people felt less stigma around speaking up. But some workplaces were still failing in actioning next steps once people have brought their problem to the attention of leadership.
“What tools are we providing to people? I've seen firsthand what happens when someone asks that question and another is really quite forthcoming with information. The person who asked then feels a sense of responsibility, and it negatively impacts them because they aren't equipped. They don't have the tools or the knowledge to assist any further”
She raised the point that without equipping leaders with the tools they need to be able to look after people, the burden would then rest on them to ensure that person is ok. Leaders are usually in the position because they care about others, so if the company stops short of providing support, it's usually the leadership team that feels the burden.
“14-hour shifts, 5 days a week, and I was on call 24/7. So, it was normal for me to get a call in the middle of the night. Weekends, if I was with my family and something happened on site, it was an expectation for me to just go, drop everything and go”
It's clear from her own experience of disrupted work-life balance, that this pressure wouldn’t support her own wellbeing. Katie's example of working extensive hours and being expected to be on call alongside this was unfortunately, not unusual in an environment that has a higher toll on people's physical and mental health.
“When you’re in the cycle of constantly showing up, you’re not thinking clearly, you're not thinking like you usually would”
Katie was spot on with this assessment and it’s been proven in study. 86% of mining and construction workers said that missing out on important events and the strains this has on relationships was a direct contributor to their mental health suffering (source). It’s something I can directly relate to from previous roles, as the feelings of guilt in not showing up for those I cared about often weighed heavily on my own mind.
As our conversation wrapped up, it was evident that tapping into external support and checking in on those who are always there for others can make a huge difference in preventing burnout and struggle. From the outside, it’s easy to spot the importance of self care and protecting your wellbeing. But when you’re caught up in a tough position, juggling responsibilities and caring for others, having reliable resources to lean on can be a game changer.
For businesses, that means putting systems in place that support the entire workforce and ensuring people have options in where to turn for help. Leadership from the top down should be preaching self care and wellbeing, in order to protect those working under them.
Culture comes from the top, as they say.
