The Future of Workplace Wellness in India
Ravi sat at his desk late on a Friday night. The weight of endless deadlines and work long hours coupled with family illness and outside stressors were weighing down on him. Ravi had always been a highly dedicated employee, however, the relentless expectations were taking a toll. The thought of another late night at the office filled him with dread. He felt trapped, unable to see a way out. The pressure to perform was overwhelming, and he began to wonder if it was all worth it.
Ravi’s experience is common. Workplace wellness is a global concern, but Indian corporate culture often falls behind in prioritising mental and emotional well-being.
A recent study by Assocham reported that 42.5% of employees in India suffer from depression or anxiety, with 23% experiencing workplace-related mental health issues
While globally companies are focusing on healthier work environments, in India, many organisations struggle with outdated expectations, relentless pressure, and unhealthy competition.
Recently, a high-profile incident involving Ernst & Young (EY), brought much-needed attention to the country's workplace wellness crisis. Leaked emails from the employee who tragically took her own life, revealed her stress and frustrations with unreasonable deadlines, a lack of support, and an overwhelming sense of hopelessness.
This heartbreaking incident highlights an uncomfortable truth: many Indian organisations prioritise productivity and competition over the health and wellness of their employees. Key factors compounding the problem include:
Long Work Hours: Indian professionals, particularly in sectors such as finance, IT, and consulting often work 60-70 hours a week, with 24/7 availability expectations, making work-life balance impossible.
Lack of Psychological Safety: Many Indian workplaces lack a culture where employees feel safe sharing mental health struggles. Voicing stress concerns is often seen as weakness, leading to a culture of silence
Rigid Hierarchies: Corporate structures are often hierarchical, leaving junior employees powerless to set boundaries with senior leaders. This increases stress and burnout due to overwhelming demands and lack of support.
What Can Be Done?
The EY India tragedy and the rising reports of mental health issues among professionals show that competitiveness can no longer come at the expense of well-being. Recently, Gallup released the results of a survey of over 13,000 workers highlighting the top 6 things that employees want from their next organisation. Notably, over 60% of those surveyed wanted an increased focus on wellbeing in the workplace. It was the second most raised consideration.
For Indian employers, the focus on the mental, emotional and physical health of their employees doesn’t simply have the anticipated wellbeing benefits, it can significantly improve their brand in the recruitment marketplace and support their competitiveness globally.
Here are some ways that organisations can support the wellbeing of their employees:
Offer flexibility Flexible working hours, remote work, and clear boundaries between personal and professional time are essential for well-being. Policies should allow for employees to disconnect after work hours.
Offer mental health education and support: Companies should support leaders to recognise signs of high stress and burnout and provide support systems such as access to EAP’s (employee assistance programs), mental health days, and wellbeing programs.
Reduce Stigma Around Mental Health: Regular discussion breaks down stigma and creates safe environments for employees to discuss mental health challenges.
Include Wellbeing Performance Metrics: Many Indian companies focus only on output, ignoring how results are achieved. Organisations that include well-being metrics in performance reviews not only promote a healthier work environment but often increase efficiency too.
Without systemic change, extreme competitiveness will overshadow workplace wellness efforts. Indian organisations must ask whether the ruthless pursuit of growth and increased profit worth the mental and emotional toll on employees.
It’s time to shift focus from competing to creating environments where employees can thrive mentally, emotionally, and professionally. Thankfully, the waves of change are already here.
Let'z Talk Day, observed in India on October 10th, is dedicated to co-creating healthier workplaces. It encourages leaders, employees, and organizations to engage in meaningful conversations about mental health. Striking the right balance will help Indian organizations strengthen their position on the global stage.
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