Workplace Mindfulness in Accounting Practice: Issues, Opportunities, and Challenges

Abstract

SYNOPSIS Research suggests that individual, secular mindfulness can improve work outcomes, including reducing stress and increasing attention, wellness, and job performance. This paper discusses the construct and efficacy of mindfulness and explores opportunities for and challenges to integrating workplace mindfulness in professional accounting. Evidence from websites suggests that most large accounting firms promote workplace mindfulness to their clients and that some (e.g., EY and PWC) promote its practice among their accounting professionals. While a review of literature indicates support for some claimed benefits, workplace mindfulness is no panacea. Challenges to workplace mindfulness include the unwillingness of some accounting professionals to practice mindfulness and that some claimed benefits, e.g., improved leadership and teamwork, are not well-supported by research. The paper concludes by proposing a set of workplace mindfulness issues and practice opportunities and discussing impediments to and the limits of mindfulness in professional accounting. JEL Classifications: M40; M41; M42.