With over three decades of leadership spanning human resources and business strategy, Rajesh Jain, President & CHRO at Welspun Living Ltd., has been at the forefront of shaping people-centric organizations across diverse industries. In an exclusive conversation with THIP Media, he shares his insights on the employee health, the gaps that still exist, and how he foresees organisations reshaping their approach to well-being in the years ahead.
From your position as a CHRO, how would you describe the current state of employee health in corporate India?
The situation is quite alarming. Not only are people facing lifestyle-related health issues, but many are also not equipped to handle the stress generated by today’s corporate work culture. This ongoing pressure, when left unaddressed, quietly impacts both mental and physical well-being over time.
What do you believe are the top 3 health-related challenges faced by working professionals today?
While there are several health challenges that needs to addressed today, but I feel, the most common ones would be:
Obesity and Lifestyle-Related Health Issues: Rising sedentary habits, poor dietary patterns, and lack of physical activity are contributing to long-term health concerns
Anxiety: Increasing work pressure and constant mental load are making anxiety a common and often overlooked challenge
Gastric Issues: Irregular meals, stress, and unhealthy food choices are leading to frequent digestive discomfort and related problems
Do you think Indian companies are sensitised about the mental health of employees now?
Indian companies are often not adequately sensitized to mental health concerns. While taking medical leave is usually not difficult, addressing the root cause of the problem remains a challenge. In many cases, anxiety-related issues do not resolve on their own, even after short or extended breaks, because the workplace environment continues to be a source of stress. While some individuals are better equipped to manage this pressure, others may not yet have the skills or support needed to cope effectively.
Why do you think it is important for organisations to invest in the health of their employees actively?
More than corporates alone, it is important for individuals to understand and invest in their own well-being. At the same time, organizations have a responsibility to create supportive environments. As corporates, we should define, track, and regularly monitor a company’s Health Index to better understand and improve the overall well-being of the workforce.
Have you noticed a correlation between well-being initiatives and employee engagement or retention scores?
Well-being initiatives tend to work best for individuals who are aware of their health and actively choose to take care of themselves. They are often less effective for those who knowingly ignore health concerns or remain in denial. In India, attrition is still largely driven by better roles or higher compensation, while employee engagement is more closely linked to one’s relationship with managers and colleagues. Rarely do people leave an organization solely due to a lack of health or well-being benefits.
An ideal employee health program that you would design for your organisation
I think I would design a program that would offer the following.
Health Index Definition and Monitoring: Define Health Index for your company and monitor it. Every employee should be aware of their individual improvement areas, with well-being becoming a shared responsibility and a part of their personal development goals.
Balanced and Healthy Canteen food
Mental Well-being Initiatives:
- Creating awareness around early signs of stress and mental health challenges in oneself and colleagues
- Educating employees on the long-term impact of stress on both health and quality of life
- Building individual capabilities to manage and cope with stress effectively
- Identifying key sources of workplace stress and actively working to minimize them
- Proactively identifying individuals who may be more vulnerable to stress
- Providing access to professional counselling support
- Offering job rotation or transition to lower-stress roles where feasible
What’s your vision of a “wellbeing-first” workplace?
‘Wellbeing-first’ can sometimes be a misnomer because businesses ultimately exist to generate profits. However, workplaces must acknowledge the reality of employee health challenges, approach them with sensitivity, and take responsibility for monitoring a company-wide Health Index. By creating awareness around individual health risks and actively building employees’ stress-handling capabilities, organizations can support well-being without losing sight of business objectives.
Quick Shots
One thing you wish more CHROs would talk about openly
Sources of stress that can be addressed without impacting business performance
Sabbaticals — trend or necessity
Should be need-based
If you could implement only one health policy company-wide, it would be
Mediclaim including outpatient support
The one wellbeing initiative each company should adopt
Health Index
A health trend that you think is overhyped in the corporate world
Wellbeing-first
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