Both employees and unemployed individuals face stress for various reasons today. Working people are battling rising work pressure, long hours, and job insecurity. Whether in the office or working from home, mental exhaustion is becoming common.
ILO Report Reveals Alarming Numbers
The International Labour Organization (ILO) recently reported that over 8.4 lakh people die each year due to work-related psychosocial risks. These risks include long working hours, job insecurity, and workplace harassment. According to the report The Psychosocial Working Environment: Global Developments and Pathways for Action, these issues are linked to heart disease, mental health problems, and even suicide.
Impact on Health, Productivity, and Economy
The ILO report also highlights that these issues affect not only employees’ health but also organizational productivity and the global economy. Every year, approximately 45 million Disability-Adjusted Life Years (DALYs) are lost, and nearly 1.37% of the global GDP is impacted by these factors.
ILO’s Recommendations for Better Work Environments
The ILO suggests several measures to address these issues:
- Develop better policies and regulatory frameworks
- Create a safe and healthy workplace environment
- Strengthen employee participation and collective organization
- Focus on aspects like workload, control, and fairness
What Can Be Done to Address This Issue?
To combat this problem, governments and industries must collaborate to create and implement effective policies. Additionally, workplace monitoring and regular assessments should be enhanced to identify and address employee concerns in a timely manner. The most important step is ensuring that workplaces are safe and balanced, promoting both mental and physical well-being for employees.
