Employee mental health has to be a key driver of sustainable business growth: Experts

Quitting one’s job on the day of joining? A product designer recently shared the experience of his first day at work at his new job on Reddit, which has further intensified the debate on work-life balance and toxic work environments. The product designer narrated that the manager set unrealistic terms of working “beyond normal hours without any compensation”. The manager also dismissed “work-life balance” as a “fancy term” and “western developed nation behaviour”.

The news reports about death of a young EY executive due to extreme pressure at work and long working hours; as well as an HSBC Bank executive collapsing at work and passing away, have brought into sharp focus the work environment in Indian corporates. These developments happened even as the country’s workforce fights for a safe work environment, especially for women, in light of the horrific RG Kar Hospital incident.

On the occasion of World Mental Health Day today, Adgully takes a look at how organisations are addressing the issue of toxic work environment and taking steps to create an empowering work environment for their executives.

Lizandra Pinto, Organisation Strategy Director & Head of Business HR at White Rivers Media, shared, “At White Rivers Media, we’ve built a culture where employees’ well-being isn’t just a priority – it is embedded in everything we do. By installing sleeping pods, ensuring games for mini breaks, and hosting sporting events and tournaments, we create an environment where our team can prioritize taking good care of their physical health. Our partnership with Trijog for mental health and wellness provides over 1,500 hours of free, one-on-one counseling for employees and their families, ensuring they feel supported both personally and professionally.”

Highlighting the importance of staying connected in a remote work world, Stuti Srivastava, HR Manager at Hybrid, said, “We are committed to fostering a healthy and balanced work environment, even with our employees working from different locations. Our key initiatives include virtual team engagement activities like online team-building games and discussions to keep everyone connected and engaged. We also plan to introduce virtual Zumba and wellness sessions to promote fitness and mental health across all locations.”

Echoing this sentiment, Ruhie Pande, Group CHRO at Sterlite Power, added, “At the heart of our culture is the belief that when people truly enjoy what they do, they bring their best selves to work. That’s why fun is one of our core values – but it doesn’t stop there. We are always striving to create an environment that not only inspires people, but empowers them to grow, succeed, and maintain a healthy work-life balance.” Her company’s initiatives, such as EmpowerHer, focus on nurturing and developing female talent, ensuring every individual has the tools to thrive.

Sharad K Sharma, Chief Human Resources & Ethics Officer at Pramerica Life Insurance, stressed, “Creating an environment where mental health is prioritized is no longer just a good-to-have, but a key driver of sustainable business growth. Companies must foster an environment where employees feel safe, valued, and supported, enabling both personal and professional growth.” His commitment is reflected in Pramerica’s wellness program, Swasthum, which focuses on both physical and mental well-being, highlighting the necessity of a supportive workplace.

Abhishek Gupta, Vice President & Head of HR at ZebPay, cited some alarming statistics around workplace stress, saying, “According to reports, approximately 62% of Indian employees face work-related stress and burnout, which is three times higher than the global average of 20%. Promoting inclusivity and accessibility in well-being initiatives is essential. At ZebPay, we’ve adopted various strategies to effectively meet these requirements, including free access to therapy and counseling through our ZEBCARE program.”

But not every corporate leader vouches for shorter work hours. One would recall Infosys founder NR Narayana Murthy statement where he had suggested that India’s youngsters needed to work 70 hours a week (amounting to 14 hours a day) to compete with global economies. This had stirred up some serious debates, where a few industry hochos also supported the Infosys head.

But one might well remember that working longer hours does not necessarily lead to work efficiency. Working without a break or working on weekends doesn’t signify a hard-working employee. Corporates need to snap out of this culture that promotes such a work environment in order to improve employee well-being and bring about better work-life balance. Productivity can be achieved without sacrificing mental health.

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