There may be a disturbance in office work and personal life. Many employees suffer from burnout, stress and depression due to work pressure. However, many companies in India and other countries have started giving employees no-questions-asked “health days” off.
Mind at work
Divya, who runs two businesses, knows how things can get messy even if she loves what she does. Hence, the significance of Kalyan Diwas is left out.
She shares that at Now Media and Bleep Studio, they wanted to ensure that employees were not going through such intense episodes of burnout. However, many questions leave the welfare day.
There are instances when a simple break from work helps employees relax, reboot and then return to work. Divya says companies can be limited in addressing deep-rooted personal struggles. “Therefore, initiatives like Kalyan Diwas leaves are effective and meaningful steps towards offering some form of support.”
Kalyan Divas leaves are a ‘preventive measure’ rather than a ‘cure’. These are not sick days or vacation days but freedom and the choice to go away as and when needed.
Nitin Koshy, partner at Now Media, Bangalore, says many multinational firms have already introduced flexible work options and mental health support systems due to the pandemic. Nitin is hopeful that more Indian companies will introduce wellness day holidays, keeping in mind the mental and physical health of employees. “Health Day leaves are a simple yet meaningful way of reminding people to take a step back,” says Divesh Kotekar, Business Head, The Bleep Studio. He says, ‘This time is not a matter of vacation. It’s about creating a work culture where mental health is valued.”
Employees have also been vocal about the need for “health days” leave. Aishwari Garje, a senior graphic designer, says that sometimes they are overwhelmed with work throughout the week. “At times like this, a wellness day off helps us reboot ourselves and get ready for more work.”
A big leap
Being open or accepting of one’s mental health is not an easy task. However, such initiatives pave the way for such discussions to take place. “By naming it as a wellness day, we want employees to understand that it is acceptable to take a break and recharge without any justification,” adds Niharika.
Some companies even support pet-friendly work environments. “Every now and then we have our dogs spend the day with us, roaming around and interacting with the teams which act as good mood boosters,” adds Nitin. Well-being comes in many forms, perhaps every company needs to invest in the overall well-being of their employees to see better returns.
“Our offices are pet-friendly. Every now and then we have our dogs spend the day, roaming around and interacting with the teams which acts as a great mood booster.” – Nitin Koshy, Partner at Now Media from Bangalore
“One day every month is especially useful for relaxation. So, initiatives like this prove beneficial.” – Niharika Gopal, an account manager
“Wellness days give employees time to recharge, whether that’s just staying in bed, going out for a walk or spending the day by themselves with no explanation.” – Divya Maben, Partner, Now Media and Co-Founder, The Beep Studio