Ahead of the World Mental Health Day on October 10, LinkedIn launches a special ‘mental health’ edition of the Workforce Confidence Index to address the prevalence of work stress in India. The survey was conducted across 3,881 professionals between July 31 to September 14, and nearly 55% of the respondents reported that to be feeling stressed at work is almost a luxury.  

Given the worsening scenario of the aspect of mental health over the period of last eighteen months, respondents point out that ‘balancing work with personal needs’ (34%), ‘not making enough money’ (32%), and ‘slow career advancement (25%) are the biggest factors affecting the mental health. Interestingly, under such circumstances, 1 in 3 professionals (36%) focus on the positive aspect of at least not being laid off, while 30% cite the opportunity to control expenses in a recovering, yet competitive marketplace. 

The index reflects that though the need for flexibility prevails over every generation, the millennials were 2x more likely to take time-offs, while gen-Z professionals were 1.5x more likely to take breaks during the day when compared to baby boomers. Data shows that the boomers are more likely to be comfortable with their colleagues about mental health as compared to the other two generations mentioned.  

Commenting on the findings, Ashutosh Gupta, India Country Manager, LinkedIn said, “These stressful times of change have impelled the need for greater flexibility and work-life balance among professionals. But our survey reveals a wide gap between what employees need and what employers are offering to cope with stress.”  

Adding to the data he mentioned that while nearly half of (47%) employed professionals wish to end work at reasonable hours, only about one-third (36%) were actually able to do so. And while 41% planned for time-off, only 30% could take time off in the past two months. These alarming statistics reflect the urgency for companies to understand how creating a culture that encourages work-life balance and prioritizes wellbeing is critical moving forward.