siliconindia | | October 20189correct guidance and treatment at work from such profes-sionals. Employees will be less stressed and are likely to become more productive.No one should wake-up in the morning and feel like they have to go to work. Rather, they should look for-ward towards going to work and feel that they want to go to work. Every now and then, people might have an odd day when they feel lazy and don't feel like being at work. However, if this becomes a trend, then there is a problem which needs to be addressed. With mental health professionals onboard, employees will be able to share their concerns with the professional and work on the is-sues they may be facing. It will hopefully also reduce one employee speaking with another about their problems and causing a rippling effect. It is important to note that mental health disorders are among the most important contributors of disease and disability worldwide. The Indian workplace is essential-ly dynamic in nature. Most employees are compelled to learn new tasks and take-on additional responsibilities. There is constant training of knowledge and skill which are imparted to employees to keep them updated on recent market trends and changes.Then, there is the introduction of new advanced technology and better, more efficient ways of doing things. The perceived threat of losing one's job to robots machines, and the fear of being made redundant because of lack of expertise and skill, can all take a toll on the employee's mental and physical well-being. The nature of conducting business has become fast paced and even more competitive than a decade ago. Indian organizations are constantly competing with international businesses and have adopted their style of working. In some of the organizations in India, employees are expected to attend to official calls on holidays and some are even expected to work when they are physically unwell from home. Some employers organize off-site retreats to many wonderful locations nationally & internationally. However, employees hardly get to relax on such outings, as they are made to sit through meetings & presentations.There are many ways in which organizations can pro-mote mental well-being of their employees:· By offering flexibility in working hours, including the option to work remotely from home. · Offering and encouraging in-house counseling. · Conducting mental health awareness campaigns.· Encourage employees to take breaks at work and to take annual holidays instead of pilling the holidays up.· Recognize & reward employees frequently.· Take quick action to settle disputes and grievances.· Ensure there is even distribution of workload amongst employees.· Create positive change in the workplace, so that the en-vironment becomes supportive to employees. We can't please everyone as people have different expectations. However, we can ensure that the work environment is conducive for most employees and that the morale of the staff are high.· Become a Family Friendly Employer. Have annual fam-ily days. Invite and encourage family members and chil-dren to visit the employee's office annually. Most people work for their families. By involving family members the employees get a chance to interact with family members of other employees, which is likely to strengthen the bond between employees and their families.It is a well known fact that the average employee spends maximum of their time physically in their work-place. It therefore becomes imperative for employers to ensure that the mental and physical well-being of their employees takes precedence over all other aspects. Many employers check for mental & physical fitness level of prospective employees before hiring them. Every employ-er & employee needs to ensure that they remain healthy throughout their tenure at the workplace/organization. It is important to note that mental health disorders are among the most important contributors of disease and disability worldwideDr. Vihan Sanyal
< Page 8 | Page 10 >