Today we wish to discuss on the most precious thing of our life-our health. And the data is scary. 84% of IT employees in India have a damaged liver, and they do not even know it.
64% of employees sit for more than 9 hours at work, and 58% of employees feel burned out. Work hours are apparently more than 10, as they have to be ‘always on’ or get thrown out of the system. People sleep for less than 6 hours every day, some for 4-4.5 hours. Approximately 30% of Indians are tobacco users, and 15% are alcohol drinkers. Ironically, both tobacco and alcohol are good industries in the world. This can spur a debate on ethics, but that is not the focus today; the focus is on a decent life, which depends on both the employee and the employer. Recent research suggests that nearly half of the Indian adult population is not meeting the global recommendations for minimum weekly physical activity of 30 minutes per day. Also, 70% of Indians’ health problems are detected much too late, as somehow we are averse to check-ups and consider them a waste of money. And the outcome of all the bad habits is even more scary: (a) Diabetes at 35, not due to hereditary factor, but bad eating habit (b) Joint pain at 45 (c) Heart disease at 50 (d) Cancer at 55 (e) Osteoporosis at 60 and (f) Death at an early age, in the age 26-42, there are many examples. We would request people to read an article “Karoshi-Death from overwork: Occupational Health Consequences of Japanese Production Management” by Katsuo Nishiyama and Jeffrey V Johnson which was published way back in 1997 and the Karoshi situation has become global, with around 750,000 Karoshi deaths in 2021 and probably the list is around 1 million today. Instead, Japanese prefer to follow IKIGAI to stay healthy by finding happiness in keeping busy throughout in something of their choice.
The aim is again not to debate on longer or shorter working hours, the aim is to bring in a culture of good habits, at both employee and employer end, which would need rational working hours and sufficient manpower, which is being supplemented by technology power nowadays. By the way replacement of human by machines is another cause of stress and increase in work intensity on part of people. Hence, we would like to bring in a Right to a Normal Life for people, very similar to the ‘Right to Disconnect Bill’ which was once debated in our Parliament. It may be noted that Italy, Belgium, France, and Australia have implemented a Right to Disconnect Bill where Employers cannot connect with Employees after working hours. But, we Indian Chamber of Commerce, propose Right to a Normal Life which includes : (a) max 45 hour work week (b) Eating more of natural foods –fibre rich foods, seasonal vegetables and fruits(c) Cutting down-oil, sugar, ultra processed food (d) Sleeping well and sufficiently hydrating (e) Stress
Management through various methods-book, songs, meditation, limiting ambition to reasonable extent etc. and (f) Minimise medicine dependence. Last, but not least, we stress upon Lifelong Learning for the Individual to stay relevant in the Market Economy Societal structure, happily.