We had just witnessed the tragic death of an EY employee on July 20, 2024, due to work-related pressure. And 67 days down the line, we see that what was thought to be a one-off incident has come knocking again—the unfortunate demise of an HDFC Bank employee from the Lucknow branch, all once again due to "work pressure."
And that is not an isolated incident. Modern work culture is killing more people than ever before due to its relentless stress. That is sad because unnatural deaths are becoming frighteningly commonplace in our world. Once again, what's behind this happening?
We've reached a point where we need to point fingers and place blame where it is due. I use the word "blame" consciously because these deaths could have been prevented. Yet, we persist in tolerating the environment that brings about these deaths.
The Post-COVID Work Culture
First on my list is COVID-19, but not for the obvious reasons. It brought about a profound alteration of our work environment, from what has often been considered a normal way of life, into a new dangerous norm: the blurring of lines between personal and professional life. The pandemic necessitated companies adopting the work-from-home policy. What started as a temporary necessity has thus long been an expectation of limitless working hours for employees, who remain permanently tethered to their jobs.
All clear lines between work and home have faded into oblivion. VCs and emails flood the system well beyond working hours, and the physical space for rest, the homes that were considered a place far removed from the office, is now being used as one. Sitting on the bed working and sleeping in the same space confuses the brain and does not allow it to differentiate between stress and relaxation. It locks the brain in a mode of perpetual high alert, leaving employees overwhelmed, fatigued, and stressed. Mind stress often burrows into physical and emotional burnout. What was once said to be the work-life balance revolution has very rapidly become a catastrophe for mental health.
Corporate Responses: Too Little, Too Late
What do the majority of organisations do when burnout is an issue? They put on HR meetings and workshops about work-life balance. Oftentimes, such solutions are just slapping a Band-Aid over a gaping wound. No doubt, some immediate relief is offered, but rarely is it a long-term fix. The real problem remains fixedly unresolved: too much workload, poor boundaries, and lack of meaningful support.
The tragic death of the employee at HDFC prompted Samajwadi Party (SP) president Akhilesh Yadav to tweet:
"This is the condition of a bonded labourer where he does not even have a right to speak. Government is to solve problems, not to give redundant and frivolous suggestions."
This is a declaration that has started to voice the frustration of millions of workers in the country. People feel silenced and locked into an exploitative system. This work-related stress is more than a talk- it's a public health crisis that kills.
Mental Health Stigma at Work
Another thing that needs to be reckoned with is the stigma of mental health in the workplace. Most workers are reluctant to express their concerns because they fear showing fragility as a sign of weakness or ineptness. Contributing to this resistance is that very few organizations provide real mental health care support. Some firms, which offer EAPs or some wellness seminars here and there, do not set up such programs to provide continuous, integrated care. Mental health is not a one-time issue; it needs constant care and attention.
The Society's Expectations for Productivity
At a societal level, we also need to look at the expectations that we create regarding productivity. We live in a society where work is equal to success. You are not successful unless you are busy, hustling, grinding, and sacrificing your well-being. This toxic mindset has become part of the culture within the workplace, where long hours and constant availability are badges of honor. The push to perform and the fear of falling behind with regard to the career becomes a cycle of fatal overwork that is deadly.
Breaking This Cycle What Can Be Done- The Role of Solh Wellness EWP
This corporate world, suffering from a mounting mental health crisis, definitely needs a better approach than a workshop and seminar, as this calls for something more profound, richer, and fruitful. Solh Wellness's Employee Wellness Program was exactly what was needed at this juncture.
Solh Wellness offers a full-scale and technology-driven Employee Wellness Program, which guarantees sustained mental health support with real difference made. It aims at the mental, emotional, and even physiological well-being of employees as a result of preventive care, real-time interventions, and personalized support.
A few of the prominent features of the programs include:
- 24/7 Access to Mental Health Resources: Solh Wellness allows employees access to a mental health professional and resources 24/7 so that help is available whenever it is needed.
- Personal Support: Every employee is unique, and so are their issues. Our EWP is personal. It helps the employees to tackle whatever stressors they have through focused strategies.
- Holistic Care: It unifies instruments in the application of mindfulness and within mental wellness coaching, as well as managing stress, hence optimizing emotional and physical well-being.
- Work-Life Balance Solutions: Solh Wellness actively engages with the employees to identify ways to have a healthier boundary between their professional and personal lives.
- Confidentiality and Anonymity: The facility can be accessed anonymously with confidentiality so that their concern is guaranteed to be dealt with without stigmatization.
It is not a quick fix, but it solves problems in the long term. That is how Solh Wellness's EWP energizes employees to manage stress , prevent burnout, and advocate the culture of mental wellness in the workplace.
It's High Time for Change!
We cannot sit quietly any further while pressure at work is killing people. We have to deal with the roots of this, starting with the poisonous cultures that defined the new corporate world. Balance between work and life is no longer a nicety; it's a necessity for well-being. At Solh Wellness, we are determined to be part of the solution for you by holistically bettering your employees' wellness rather than just cosmetic fixing.
Enough is enough: Time is overdue for organizations to stop treating mental health as an afterthought because lives depend on it.
