Pune, May 9 (Bureau) MPower, an initiative by The Aditya Birla Education Trust, in collaboration with IPSOS, revealed the results of a groundbreaking 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 5 months, examined the mental health status of 3,000 corporate employees from ten sectors across eight major Indian cities, including Pune. Pune-based employees were found to have several unique challenges that need to be addressed by corporates to improve their mental health. Maintaining a healthy work-life balance is a significant concern for employees, and this trend has been observed across major cities in India, such as Mumbai, Kolkata, Delhi, and Pune where personal health, family, and personal time are the top obligations that tend to be affected for employees.
In Pune, 81% of individuals find it difficult to strike a proper work-life balance. This struggle is reflected in the city’s higher number of reported sick leaves. Furthermore, the expectation for employees to work even when on leave persists in Pune, as it does in other cities. However, despite the challenges of maintaining a healthy work-life balance in Pune, the city has seen a significant rise in individuals who have found a way to achieve this goal. In contrast to other major cities such as Hyderabad (12%), Kolkata (11%), and Mumbai (14%), 19% of individuals in Pune have managed to balance their work and personal life effectively, said a press release today. Furthermore, in line with the national trend, employees in Pune have experienced a loss of work productivity due to the increased adoption of remote working.
Moreover, lack of motivation and stress are major concerns among employees in Pune. The city’s workforce has also been significantly impacted by pay cuts, affecting 48% of employees, while 46% of employees suffer from insufficient salary. In terms of health and well-being, back pain is a significant concern for individuals in Pune, with 46% of respondents reporting it as an issue. Additionally, 34% of individuals in Pune report knee pain. Despite these challenges, a large majority of employees (86%) in Pune report satisfaction with their professional growth over the past 3-5 years. Commenting on the survey findings Dr Neerja Birla, Founder and Chairperson of Mpower and Aditya Birla Education Trust, eloquently emphasises, “Corporate burnout and the mental health stress among employees have reached alarming levels in India, and we must take action to address this critical issue.
At Mpower, we are committed to driving conversations around mental health and raising awareness to help destigmatize mental health discussions. We urge policy changes at both the government and corporate levels, with a focus on mental health as a real challenge that requires attention. Employee well-being programs must be implemented to support those in need, and the destigmatization of mental health is urgently required to ensure equitable support to all employees. A physically and mentally healthy workforce is crucial for a country like India, which is relying on its youth for economic growth, said release.