Prince Harry has been a mental health advocate for years now, which is why his new day job makes a lot of sense for him now that he’s now longer a working royal.
Since March, the Duke of Sussex has served as the Chief Impact Officer for San Francisco-based tech startup BetterUp, which aims to improve “mental fitness” in the workforce through coaching and other services.
In a new interview with Fast Company about his role, the duke was asked how he’s addressing the COVID-bourne issues of burnout and job resignations. In a statement that is now being twisted out of shape all over the internet, the duke said, “I’ve actually discovered recently, courtesy of a chat with [BetterUp science board member] Adam Grant, that a lot of the job resignations you mention aren’t all bad. In fact, it is a sign that with self-awareness comes the need for change. Many people around the world have been stuck in jobs that didn’t bring them joy, and now they’re putting their mental health and happiness first. This is something to be celebrated.”
A lot of criticism has been aimed at the royal for seemingly implying that jobs don’t matter and that everyone should just quit—which, if it was what he was saying, would obviously be unacceptable given his extreme privilege and the breadth of income inequalities in the U.S. and across the globe.
With that in mind, what the duke is actually doing here is simply celebrating the decisions people have already made for themselves—that quitting their job was the right thing to do to protect their own mental health, having weighed up the pros and cons of doing so. He’s simply celebrating people who felt empowered to quit their jobs, not saying that everyone should follow suit.
The interviewer, Yasmin Gagne, tweeted, “In 2017 I quit a job that destroyed my mental health. It's one of the best decisions I ever made. I spoke to Prince Harry about his work as Chief Impact Officer at @BetterUp and why quitting is sometimes the right thing to do.”
-
Elle Macpherson Recalls Drinking Vodka From Shattered BottleThe model details her struggle with alcohol use in her new memoir.
-
Give Selena Gomez's 'Emilia Pérez' Coat the Oscar AlreadyThe symbolic costuming choice is also my winter wardrobe inspiration.
-
The True Story of Dolours and Marian Price Is Just As Harrowing As It Seems in 'Say Nothing'The new FX series is set in Ireland during The Troubles.
-
Prince Harry Gets a Bad Tattoo by Jelly Roll in Hilarious New Invictus Games Video: 'Oh, Sh*t!'"You wouldn't want nobody else doing this but me."
-
Prince Harry Makes Surprise Appearance at Major Sporting Event—And Shares What Position He'd Play in FootballThe Duke of Sussex promoted his upcoming Invictus Games.
-
Meghan Markle's $6,050 Pendant Pays Tribute to Her "Angels" Prince Archie and Princess LilibetThe engraved necklace features an adorable reference to the Duchess of Sussex's children.
-
Queen Camilla Has Helped King Charles "Loosen Up," But He Appears "Tense" Without Her"He was quite a nervous man... Camilla has been a catalyst for change."
-
King Charles Might Change Some of Queen Elizabeth's Christmas Rituals as He's Less Traditional"I don't think Charles will exactly rip up the rule book, but there's a strong chance he'll loosen some of the rules."
-
Princess Diana's Former Chauffeur Reflects on Her Death for the First Time After Being Fired"She died believing I had betrayed her and that's something I can't ever forget or forgive."
-
Prince Harry Spends Time With Pat Tillman's Widow During Surprise Appearance at Tillman Honors GalaThe Duke of Sussex was honored with the Pat Tillman Award For Service at the ESPYs earlier this year.
-
Prince Harry Says He Understands "The Weight Of Losing a Parent" in Moving Letter to Grieving Military Children"Yet, in the midst of that heartache, we find strength in the love and memories left behind."
