As per a recent global study conducted by the US-based organization Sapiens Labs, surveying over 54,000 employees across 65 countries, it was revealed that Indian office workers experience better mental health as compared to those who work in remote or hybrid work setting.
Good mental health was attributed to strong workplace relationships as well as a sense of purpose.
“Work Culture & Mental Wellbeing” Report by Sapiens Labs
It was highlighted in the “Work Culture & Mental Wellbeing” report that poor workplace relationships and a lack of purpose significantly contribute to feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and reduced motivation.
On the contrary, the tables are turned in case of strong connections with colleagues and pride in one’s work greatly enhance mental wellbeing, irrespective of job type. This revelation particularly is important since till now the common and prevailing viewpoint was that it was workload and toxic work environments which were driving factors for stress and mental health.
However, in contrast to European and American trends, the study found that Indian office workers reported better mental health than those in hybrid or remote positions.
The Impact of Workplace Culture on Mental Health in India
In the Indian context, the correlation between poor workplace relationships as well as mental distress was stronger than the global average. Notably, as compared to global average of 16% and the US figure of 18%, 13% of Indian workers reported unmanageable workloads.
The study threw light on the importance of workplace culture beyond workload management and as per the founder of Sapiens Labs, Tara Thiagarajan, the quality of relationships and a sense of purpose significantly impact mental health.
The researchers aim for this publicly available data to assist organizations in recognizing the elements of work culture that influence employee wellbeing and performance, advocating for improved workplace relationships as a means to enhance mental health.
