In the current employment landscape, where the hustle culture or “always available” attitude is promoted, employees are receiving the impression that the only way to succeed is to sacrifice their personal lives and disrupt their work-life balance.

However, engaging in such a practice for a long period can lead to devastating consequences. While many organizations continue to claim that they have supportive policies for employees in place, it’s important to know what is the ground reality and what can be done to completely eliminate the possibility of such episodes.

The Alarming Statistics on Workplace Stress

In November 2024, a 25-year-old audit executive from Pune was found dead in her apartment, with preliminary reports indicating severe stress and overwork as the primary factors contributing to her untimely demise. This young professional reportedly worked 12-14 hours daily, often skipping meals and losing sleep to meet unrealistic deadlines. Her colleagues noted she had voiced concerns about burnout, but the organizational environment didn’t provide the support she needed.

This tragic event is not an isolated case. It reflects a growing trend in India’s corporate culture, where excessive workloads, insufficient support, and unrelenting performance pressure are claiming lives. According to the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), around 42.5% of employees in India suffer from depression or anxiety directly linked to workplace stress.

A study by Deloitte in 2023 revealed that nearly 77% of employees in India have experienced burnout at their current jobs, with over 40% stating they feel “physically and emotionally exhausted” daily.

The Bigger Picture

This incident sheds light on the broader issue of workplace stress, which has become a silent killer. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that stress-related illnesses are responsible for nearly 1 million deaths annually worldwide. In India, the situation is especially dire due to cultural factors that stigmatize conversations about mental health and equate long working hours with dedication and success.

Stress manifests in various ways, including anxiety, depression, cardiovascular diseases, and even suicide. According to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), workplace stress contributed to 9.5% of all suicides in India in 2023, highlighting the urgent need for systemic changes.

Why is Workplace Stress Rising?

Several factors contribute to the surge in workplace stress, including:

1. Unrealistic Deadlines: Tight schedules with insufficient resources or support.
2. Role Ambiguity: Unclear job roles and responsibilities create confusion and anxiety.
3. Lack of Work-Life Balance: With remote working, the boundary between personal and professional life has blurred.
4. Toxic Work Culture: Bullying, micromanagement, and lack of appreciation fuel stress.
5. Economic Pressures: Rising inflation and job insecurities compound financial worries.

What Can Be Done?

Organizations and leaders have a critical role in alleviating workplace stress. Here are actionable strategies:

1. Encourage Open Communication
2. Create a culture where employees feel safe discussing their stressors without fear of judgment. Regular one-on-one check-ins can help identify issues early.
3. Implement Flexible Work Policies
4. Flexible schedules and remote work options allow employees to manage their personal and professional commitments better, reducing stress.
5. Focus on Mental Health Resources
6. Offering counseling services, stress management workshops, and mindfulness programs can significantly reduce stress levels.
7. Promote Work-Life Balance
8. Enforce policies that encourage employees to unplug after working hours. Providing additional leave options can also reduce burnout.
9. Invest in Employee Wellness Programs
10. Comprehensive wellness programs focusing on physical, mental, and emotional health are essential for sustainable employee well-being.

How SOULSARA is Addressing Workplace Stress

SOULSARA is revolutionizing the way organizations approach employee wellness. Here’s how:

Wellness PSYCHOMETRIC PROFILE: Our scientific and patented method evaluates both individuals and teams, providing comprehensive unique insights into challenges and strengths with curated recommendations. Ensure complete confidentiality with our fully encrypted platform, protecting personal and organizational data.

LIVE Wellness Support: Access real-time support through our chat, call, and forum options, providing immediate help when you need it most. Our live wellness support is designed to address a wide range of well-being challenges, offering personalized guidance and solutions.

Wellness Counseling: SOULSARA connects employees with experienced counselors to address a wide range of mental wellness challenges. Whether employees are dealing with stress, anxiety, or deeper emotional concerns, the platform offers actionable solutions from qualified professionals to promote overall mental wellness.

Panic & Chat Support: SOULSARA offers immediate panic support resources to help employees manage and overcome anxiety or panic attacks. Our chat support is available 24/7, ensuring that employees have access to crucial assistance whenever they need it. This round-the-clock wellness support combines effective panic management with continuous, confidential chat access, providing mental well-being and ensuring help is always within reach.

VIRTUAL Wellness Solutions: Our platform offers round-the-clock access to virtual wellness modules and resources, ensuring support is always available. This includes NLP, ABS, and color therapy through psychologist-approved therapy modules and digital wellness rooms. It's like having a ‘Counselor in Your Pocket’, employees can access professional counseling services anytime, anywhere, providing instant support for mental health challenges. Whether it’s stress, anxiety, or emotional concerns, our counselors are just a click away, offering personalized guidance whenever needed.

HR Dashboard with Quantifiable Results: With the integration of an HR dashboard, stakeholders can gain insights into the team’s well-being, track progress, and measure the impact of wellness initiatives in real-time. HR dashboards, providing quantifiable data on team wellness and company productivity. The dashboard offers personalized solutions & events to overcome team challenges and track their wellness efforts' VOI, measure productivity improvements, and assess the effectiveness of the programs being implemented.

Confidentiality: Our platform is protected with state-of-the-art symmetric encryption to safeguard the privacy of both employees and the organization. From personal data to psychometric evaluations and counseling sessions, every interaction is safeguarded with the highest data security standards. This ensures employees can engage with our wellness programs with the assurance that their information remains confidential.

A Call to Action

The time to act on workplace stress is now. Businesses that prioritize employee well-being not only reduce costs associated with absenteeism and turnover but also foster a thriving, engaged workforce.

As we step into a new year, let’s commit to transforming workplaces into havens of wellness and support. SOULSARA is here to guide your organization on this journey. Together, we can create healthier, happier workplaces and make stress a thing of the past.