Happiness Index – The new barometer for corporate wellbeing!!!

Today, mental wellbeing has a new definition in the business world.

What paved the way for this drastic change in the corporate culture, the thought process of employers? Why is there a need to unlearn and learn the aspects like remote-working and employee management? The circumstances and environment are new in nature and that calls for studying this behavioural science in a meticulous manner.

Given the current situation, it is evident that we will be working from home fully or partially for atleast another year.

In retrospect, this has already been the norm for the last 4 months. It all began with happy flexible working hours from home and then moving to salary cuts, layoffs for the stability of business, which then evolved into never-ending long working hours, client calls, and stressful days. 

Knowingly or Unknowingly depression, anxiety, stress, and loneliness slowly crept into our lives while trying to find that work-home life balance. The impact of this is as much to the employee as it is to the employer.

This has brought to fore the dire need of understanding and instilling amongst all the importance of mental wellbeing and holistic development. Corporate wellbeing isn’t a new concept erupted out of the Covid19 phase and lockdown.

But this pandemic will help re-write a new chapter in gauging the success of an organisation and that would be the emotional image of the company; and not just a rational figure in the financial books.

The new parameter will be termed as an ‘Emotional Quotient’ of the organization. The growing emphasis on bringing in measures to make the employees cognizant of self-care routines, wellness programmes, etc. would emerge as primary tasks for the Human Resource departments. A new system of leave application and leave encashment will come into place. There will be new salary structures that will be relevant for the new world which would mainly be performance-oriented. And for such high standards of performance, employee loyalty will have a new meaning and relevance.

To ensure the Emotional Quotient of a company is high, the following changes can be foreseen: -

· A substantial share of profits will go into building this new normal called Workforce Wellbeing.

·  A Chief Wellbeing Officer will replace HR Head

· Holistic healthcare programmes like Yoga, meditation, mental exercises, running, health coaching courses, courses, and programs on ergonomics, etc will be a part of working hours.

· Elevate employee experience with exclusive corporate wellness and rewarding them with various redeemable points in cash or kind.

· Development of video content hub on topics like positive thinking, power of meditation, etc

· Peer support group programmes like Buddy-Colleagues (for each other’s support) will be such new experiments to be explored.

· A restructured and inclusive employee insurance programme.

Fit employees from all perspectives from mental conditioning to physical energy to building emotional and hormonal immunity; would be key in an organizational DNA structure. The market value of companies will be evaluated on these fitness metrics as well.

Corporate wellness programs will continue to evolve. The happiness index of the company will be a new parameter in considering a job opportunity in any organisation. Employers can address the total health of an employee with a combined programme of emotional wellness, mental health issues, and physical energy. This will help employers to build a stronger, more productive, and happier workforce and therefore a successful company. The result would directly impact the sustenance economics of any company.