Selecting Employees Who Protect and Promote the Well‐Being of Others: Commentary on König et al. (2026)

ABSTRACT In their “Provocation Article,” König et al. (2026) argue for well‐being as an explicit criterion in personnel selection and propose selecting for applicants with characteristics predictive of well‐being. We argue that if the goal is safeguarding employee well‐being, selecting for characteristics predictive of others' well‐being is far more critical than those predictive of one's own well‐being. We believe that safeguarding others' well‐being is applicable to all employees, not just leaders, and that there are other types of interpersonal conduct beyond organizational citizenship behaviors (OCBs) and counterproductive work behaviors (CWBs) that can affect others' psychological safety, trust, and sense of belonging and should be examined. We conclude with recommendations for implementing selection for those who will protect and promote the well‐being of others and the long‐term benefits of this emphasis for worker growth and development.