MPower, an initiative by The Aditya Birla Education Trust, in collaboration with IPSOS, on Tuesday, revealed the results of a ground-breakin...
MPower, an initiative by The Aditya Birla Education Trust, in collaboration with IPSOS, on Tuesday, revealed the results of a ground-breaking survey ‘Mental Health and Wellness Quotient @Workplace 2023’ shedding light on the startling challenges faced by corporate employees in major metropolitan cities of India. The survey, conducted over a period of 12 months, examined the mental health status of 3,000 corporate employees from 10 sectors across eight major Indian cities, including participants from Kolkata. Kolkata-based employees were found to have several unique challenges that need to be addressed by corporates to improve their mental health.
"Kolkata's work culture has seen a significant shift towards long
working hours, tight deadlines, and a high-pressure work environment, leading
to a rise in work-related stress and its adverse effects on mental and physical
health. The correlation between work pressure and hypertension, diabetes, and
cholesterol is concerning, and it is crucial for organizations to prioritize
their employees' mental and physical health,” said Dr. Preeti Parakh, Psychiatrist and Head, MPower The Center Kolkata.
“Providing support to employees to manage stress and promoting work-life
balance can go a long way in preventing these health issues. Companies can
offer flexible work arrangements, promote a culture of openness and
communication, and provide mental health support through employee assistance
programs, counselling services, and workshops. These measures help prevent
health issues and result in a happier and more productive workforce. It is time
for companies to recognize the impact of work-related stress on their employees
and take proactive steps to promote mental and physical well-being. By doing
so, companies can create a healthy work environment that benefits everyone
involved," she added.
Work-Life Pressures - The survey revealed 89% found it
challenging to strike a good-enough work-life balance and this is exacerbated
by the pattern of expecting employees to work on leave - which was found to be
second highest in Kolkata, i.e. 88%; Delhi was highest at 90% and Mumbai at
84%.
Financial Pressures
- Insufficient salary and pay cuts emerged as the top financial challenges
observed across industries, job roles, and cities. Among cities, pay cuts and
job loss were more evident in Kolkata in comparison to either Delhi or Mumbai.
Over 52% of respondents in Kolkata reported experiencing financial pressures
due to insufficient salary, with pay cuts affecting 56% of respondent
Current Health Issues
- Back pain, diabetes, and hypertension were the top three ailments
faced by employees across domains, cities, job roles, industries, and age
brackets, with a risk of stress levels. Kolkata specifically suffered from
hypertension, high cholesterol, and arthritis, which were significantly higher
in Kolkata than in other cities. 44% of respondents in Kolkata reported
suffering from hypertension, while high cholesterol was reported among 31% of employees and arthritis affected nearly 25% of respondents - all of these
figures were higher than in most other cities.
Leave Policy - While the leave policy is largely
satisfactory, the majority of employees are expected to work while on their day
off or on leave. The survey found that 63% of respondents in Kolkata reported
being expected to work while on their day off or on leave, the highest
prevalence among all cities.
MPower’s first centre which came into being in 1986 in Mumbai, set up its
Kolkata centre in April 2021.
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