Staying inside, working from home, with limited social interaction have all had an impact on people’s psyches during the pandemic. The pandemic also brought about a big change in the way of working. The ‘new normal’ tipped the work-life balance on its head. People’s mental health has further suffered as a result of uncertainty about the future, job losses, and debt.
While mental health has become a rising concern, counseling remains a veiled and stigmatized concept in India. According to a National Mental Health survey, up to 83 percent of Indians who want professional assistance are hesitant to get it and this was also evident in the work culture. Employee mental health is increasingly recognised as a crucial predictor of their overall health, and job pressures can contribute to a variety of physical ailments.
Companies have now begun to realise that the wellbeing of the employees has a direct impact on their happiness, and happiness has a direct impact on their productivity. Below mentioned are a few startups that have actively recognised this directly promotional relationship of the employees’ productivity to their mental health and are doing everything they can to boost team morale through workshops, yoga, meditation, and self-motivation sessions.
Classplus:
Classplus, which is an industry-leading e-commerce enablement platform for coaching centres, solo tutors, and online content creators, launched the Classplus Wellness+ program. It is an emotional wellness programme for its employees. The programme seeks to assist the complete Classplus team, as well as their loved ones, in dealing with daily stress, improving relationships, and living a happy life. The programme comprises one-on-one online therapy sessions with mental health professionals regarding anxiety, weight, addiction, health, postpartum depression, and other topics, which are provided free of charge 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The sessions are fully private and come in a variety of formats, including online chats, video/voice consultations, and courses on Barefoot Counseling, Secondhand Stress Management, and other topics.
CredR:
CredR, a Mumbai-based, full-stack, vertically integrated, and omnichannel ecosystem of two-wheelers, hired Harvard University mental health experts to conduct counselling sessions for its employees on topics such as anxiety, stress, loneliness, and low motivation. Since the first lockdown, the startup has actively conducted various sessions on yoga, physical and mental fitness, and team bonding activities to combat the isolation that many employees may experience during these trying times. The platform has also established an internal helpline for employees.
HopeQure:
HopeQure, one of India’s most reputable and HIPAA-compliant online mental health counselling platforms, recently announced the launch of a completely automated Online Corporate Employee Mental Wellness Program. The exclusive Employee Assistance Program encourages employees to adopt good work habits by providing a comprehensive solution to assist them in overcoming work-life difficulties. The Employee Assistance Program (EAP) meets the unique needs of employees by providing support for POSH, shift-work healing practices, healthy maternity, diet, yoga, meditation, nutrition, post-retirement planning, and other wellness programmes that aid in enhancing mental health and productivity.
Swiggy:
Swiggy, a food delivery platform, has launched ‘Built Around You,’ a curated wellness programme for its employees. The project is centred around the four pillars of physical, emotional/mental, financial, and legal wellness, and is aimed at boosting the overall wellness of the entire Swiggy clan and their loved ones. The advantages include unlimited tele/video interview appointments with complimentary professionals, as well as customised advanced and on-location wellness programmes for employees and their families. This includes wellness screenings, health workshops/online courses, and one-on-one consultations on topics such as weight loss, addiction and diabetes management, maternity care, and marital counselling, among others.
Wellness initiatives are more vital than ever as the world of work evolves. According to a McKinsey & Company estimate for 2021, the global wellness market is worth more than $1.5 trillion, with annual growth of 5 to 10%. Over the last two to three years, the American management consulting firm has seen a significant increase in the prioritisation of wellness in global markets. It’s no secret that individuals who are healthy are happier, and that happy people are less prone to develop chronic diseases. Employee wellness and performance are related, and a wellness culture helps to develop an engaged workforce, which promotes results.
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com
