We will survive this contagion but the key to this is adaptation. Till that happens, all firms must take care of their employees
The pandemic has changed the way we perceive every aspect of our daily lives as we struggle to adapt to a new normal. The World Health Organisation’s (WHO) statistics on the magnitude and scale of the outbreak have a mind-numbing impact. There are currently 1.97 crore active cases around the world, in 216 countries. The most disturbing aspect is that global casualties have crossed the seven lakh mark. India has 2.2 million active cases and there have been 44,000 deaths. Needless to say, some aspects of the Indian economy and the corporate landscape have changed forever, and that includes the way businesses are conducted.
The economy is in turmoil and the corporate sector is having to bend over backwards to ensure that businesses stay viable. As companies struggle to find balance in these critical times, lay-offs have become common, instilling fear and insecurity among the remaining employees who, in addition to their own work, are being piled up with the duties of their erstwhile colleagues. These conditions are stressful and a drain on the psyche of the employee as s/he fights fears of unemployment, financial insecurity and rising expenses. In these conditions, the mind and body are being stretched to their limits with major collateral damage to human health.
This staff distress is unfortunately paving the way for what is being increasingly termed as “non-Coronavirus casualties.” According to data compiled by a group of researchers led by public interest technologist GN Thejesh and Kanika Sharma, 338 deaths have been recorded on account of the lockdown-spurred unemployment, financial distress and isolation. The work from home (WFH) conditions are also making it an uphill task for the Human Resource departments of firms to gauge the physical and psychological health of their staff. Sometimes problems like depression are identified too late in the day.
The Bengaluru-based Suicide Prevention India Foundation (SPIF) conducted a study on the rising spate of suicides in the country and the results are not reassuring. The study based its findings on the responses received from 300 therapists, who found that suicide ideation and self-harm intentions have risen sharply during the pandemic. Out of this, 76 per cent of the people feared job loss. Additionally, 30 per cent of the patients of the therapists have already inflicted some sort of self-harm. This data is alarming to say the least and does not bode well for the future of the corporate sector.
Recently, people have been experiencing a slew of emotions due to social isolation, change of lifestyle and loss of personal income. In a recent study of 673 workers in China, their mental health showed disturbing signs with a significant proportion recording conditions of post-traumatic stress disorder, moderate or severe anxiety, depression, stress and insomnia. Other psychiatric symptoms that are prevalent are worries about physical health, anger, discrimination during the outbreak, paranoid ideations, hallucinations, suicidal thoughts, alcohol usage and intent to hurt others. In the COVID-19 scenario, the corporate sector is already learning the ropes quickly and is trying to maintain employee health. But haemorrhaging profits and lay-offs tell a different story. There needs to be a turnaround in the manner employee mental and physical health is being managed, not only in the best interests of the company but for the larger good of the economy as well. There are a slew of measures being taken across the global corporate landscape which can have a direct relevance for India. Many businesses around the world are taking the current stressful times as an opportunity to connect with their employees and are comforting them. Health and fitness are being accorded priority over productivity. This, among other things, showcases the humane side of the management.
In order to secure the health of the employees, the Indian corporate sector must encourage its staff to share their daily exercise routines with Human Resources managers and instead of over-burdening the employees with work-related Zoom and Skype calls, they must focus on some rest and recreation interactions, too.
The critical aspects impacting the health of any employee are broadly three: Fear of job loss, financial insecurity and a rising workload. The corporate sector must design rehabilitating measures that seek to address these three issues, but for this, financial well-being of the companies is a must and this is where timely Government assistance comes into the picture.
There is no saying when this mayhem will get over. But once things start becoming clearer, would businesses return to their normal self or will the “new normal” become permanent? Although we may not like the answer, the “new normal” is likely to stay. However, humans are known to adapt. That is the underlying strength that ensures the survival of our species. We will survive this contagion but the key to this is adaptation. Till that happens, it is the responsibility of all firms to take care of the mental and physical health of their staff.
(The writer is Associate Professor, Amity University, Noida)
