When it comes to employee wellbeing, companies hype their compensation packages, flexible working hours and snack bars. Few, however, talk about mental health, let alone make it a priority. According to a Lancet paper, one in seven Indians suffered from a mental illness in 2017. With the pandemic causing a surge in anxiety, depression, sleep disorders etc, it is more important than ever to address these concerns.
At the workplace, mental illness remains a largely taboo subject. A 2016 study by the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India revealed that nearly 42.5 per cent of employees in the country’s private sector organisations suffer from depression or general anxiety disorder. even though many individuals with mental health issues are part of the workforce, they rarely divulge these at the workplace, fearing prejudice and stigma. According to a 2019 study by Businessolver, an Iowa based employeebenefits administration services company, 68 per cent of employees worry that reaching out about their mental health issues could negatively impact job security. Although 50 per cent of all employees (and 60 per cent of millennial employees) reported having had a mental health problem, only onethird of them reached out to their employers. Organisations do not actively seek this information from employees. “Most prejoining medical tests that organisations mandate consist of tests on physical health parameters,” says Nimisha Dua of Conagra Foods.
This story is from the July 27, 2020 edition of Outlook.
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This story is from the July 27, 2020 edition of Outlook.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
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