[2026] PTE Academic Reading - Multiple Choice, Single Answer

The current movement toward 'mindfulness' in the workplace is often presented as a benevolent gift to stressed employees. By teaching techniques such as meditation and deep breathing, corporations claim to foster a culture of well-being and productivity. However, some sociologists argue that this focus on individual mental resilience is a convenient way for organizations to avoid addressing systemic issues like overwork and poor management. When stress is framed as a personal failing that can be solved with a mobile app, the structural causes of burnout remain untouched. This 'McMindfulness'—a term coined to describe the commercialized, surface-level application of ancient practices—strips mindfulness of its ethical and radical roots. Instead of being a tool for self-awareness and social change, it becomes a mechanism for adjusting individuals to inherently toxic environments. A truly supportive workplace should not just help employees cope with stress; it should actively work to reduce the unnecessary pressures that make coping necessary in the first place.