Employees’ mental and physical well-being positively catalyze the well-being of an organization. A well-researched subject today, global workplaces have already adapted and executed health-oriented plans under their DEI initiatives tackling the VUCA times.
However, the figures from India on mental health well-being with respect to precautions are a concern. The stigma associated with mental issues sidelines the prevention or treatment. Hence, it is critical for workplaces to step in and take timely action to ensure individual, organizational, and societal well-being.
Indian workplaces, mainly corporates, are invested in tracking and ascertaining employee well-being. The peak of Covid-19, which saw around 42% of employees reporting mental health decline globally, brought the focus on it, enabling a safe space for people to address the issues and seek professional help. Workplace wellness measures and programs have helped mitigate the risk of issues and normalize it, saving the individual from the fear of embarrassment or judgment. In the digital era, organizations are acquiring solutions, using the tech infrastructure that ensures strategic and focused measures.
The business case
The mental stress that occurs due to job burnout, anxiety, and other external factors, affects both employees and leaders. Addressing this at the source– the workplace— can impact the individual and organization positively. In fact, numerous studies have quoted the impact of wellness programs that translates to organizational benefits in the form of productivity, presenteeism, business acceleration, etc. It also helps in reducing healthcare costs for businesses and employees. McKinsey quotes a study that establishes employee wellness programs being the source of improved performance, mental health, and self-efficacy. Companies like Infosys, Salesforce, EY, PwC, Zoom, and Starbucks are a few global giants that have adapted to the changing times, providing wellness programs for their workforce. Complementing this advancement, a popular meditation app, Headspace, reports over a 500% increase in organizations’ demand for apps that track and help provide mental well-being.
Going digital
As per research by Oracle and Workplace Intelligence, 2020 was the most stressful year for people in their working lives. Thankfully, the pandemic had provided one benefit— the transformation of work style. The shift to digital solutions from offline mode has been a blessing. This has helped both parties– the employees to reach out and the employers adopting wellness programs in their organizations. Features like accessibility, convenience, and wider reach enable it to be the preferred medium by corporates. Digital solutions ensure an array of benefits. Apart from providing the exclusive benefits of therapy, counseling, or professional aid, it gives employees the freedom to communicate their concerns, with or without anonymity. Such digital solutions also help in early diagnosis and prevention,
The WHO says the estimated productivity loss for the global economy is $1 trillion due to mental health disorders. Organizations are hence investing in digital tools like applications, chatbots, and other digital forums that the employees can depend on for wellbeing. A Deloitte study finds organizations investing in workplace mental health programs mitigating the rising costs of doing nothing. It simply means, that putting a program in place for such health benefits helps in some way or the other, maybe achieving lower absenteeism, improved productivity, etc.
While it is important to know that nothing can overrule professional support, organizations need to be cognizant of enabling an initial hand to provide meaningful support to their workforce. A workplace that fosters psychological safety is a powerhouse for effective business and the seamless running of it. Above all, organizations need to ask themselves and dig deep into understanding why their work environment is a hotplate for mental stress for employees. It is important for amateurs to know that global giants are progressing, adopting the idea of employee wellness, as part of their functional agenda.
