In “Stop Asking Employees to Self-Regulate in Structurally Dysregulated Workplaces,” Rose Byass explores the neurobiological impact of poorly designed work environments. Drawing on neuroscience, cognitive load theory, and lived experience, the article argues that open-plan offices, hot desking, and unmanaged noise contribute to chronic nervous system dysregulation — undermining psychological safety, performance, and wellbeing. Challenging leaders to rethink environmental design as a governance issue rather than a facilities decision, the piece calls for evidence-based workplace policies that prioritise sensory safety, predictability, and regulation as foundations of high performance.
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