Tag: WORKPLACE MENTAL HEALTH AND PRODUCTIVITY

The Economic Survey 2025 highlighted the significant impact of workplace culture, working hours, and lifestyle on mental health and worker productivity. It stressed the urgent need for improved workplace conditions and healthier lifestyles to enhance employee well-being and boost economic growth. Key Factors Affecting Mental Health Workplace Culture: A positive workplace culture boosts mental well-being. Employees with good relationships with managers and colleagues report 33% higher mental well-being scores. A sense of purpose at work further enhances well-being. Workload Management: Excessive workloads negatively impact mental health. Employees with manageable workloads report 27% greater mental well-being than those overwhelmed by work. Long working hours (55-60 per week) increase stress and anxiety. Impact of Remote Work: While remote work offers flexibility, fully remote employees report 17% lower mental well-being scores than those in-office or in hybrid models. Social interaction at work is crucial for mental health. Lifestyle Choices and Mental Well-being: Dietary Choices: Avoiding ultra-processed and packaged foods improves mental well-being. Physical Activity: Lack of exercise leads to higher stress levels and lower productivity. Social Media Usage: Excessive social media consumption correlates with declining mental health. Family Ties: Strong family relationships contribute significantly to better mental well-being. Key Implications of Poor Mental Health on the Economy Lost Productivity: Mental health disorders like depression and anxiety reduce work efficiency, absenteeism, and presenteeism (working while unwell). As per WHO, depression and anxiety lead to a global loss of 12 billion workdays annually, costing nearly USD 1 trillion. In India, this translates to a loss of approximately Rs 7,000 per affected worker per day. Absenteeism and Turnover: Mental health issues lead to higher sick leave, early departures, and job turnover. Economic Survey 2024-25 noted that individuals with poor mental well-being lose about 15 working days per month, compared to 2-3 days for healthier individuals. Increased Healthcare Expenditure: Poor mental health increases healthcare costs due to frequent medical visits, hospitalizations, and long-term treatments. This strains public health infrastructure, diverting resources from other critical areas. Decline in Innovation and Entrepreneurship: Poor mental health hampers creativity, risk-taking, and decision-making. This slows technological and business advancements, especially in high-performance sectors facing stress and burnout. Mental Health Quotient (MHQ) MHQ is a standardized measure assessing mental well-being and cognitive functioning. The evaluation is based on self-reported responses to a questionnaire covering emotional resilience, cognitive function, social well-being, and risk factors. MHQ score ranges from -100 to +200, with higher scores indicating better mental health. Suggestions Provided by Economic Survey 2024-25 Workplace Reforms: Foster a supportive work culture by improving interpersonal relationships, reducing stress, and promoting a sense of purpose. Implement work-hour regulations to prevent burnout and enhance productivity. Flexible Work Models: Encourage hybrid work policies to balance flexibility and social interaction. This helps mitigate the negative effects of full remote work. Health and Lifestyle Interventions: Employers and the government should promote healthy eating, physical activity, and digital detox. Awareness and Mental Health Programs: Implement large-scale mental health awareness initiatives, counseling services, and employee assistance programs. Policy and Legislative Measures: Strengthen occupational health policies by integrating mental health considerations into labour laws. Ensure workplaces adopt mental health-friendly practices. The Economic Survey 2024-25 highlights mental well-being as a national priority. A healthy workforce is key to productivity, resilience, and economic growth. Prioritizing workplace mental health through supportive policies will strengthen India’s path to becoming a global economic powerhouse

Tag: WORKPLACE MENTAL HEALTH AND PRODUCTIVITY

WORKPLACE MENTAL HEALTH AND PRODUCTIVITY

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