A silent health crisis is brewing within corporate India, with a significant number of employees suffering from chronic illness, poor mental health, and burnout, according to an alarming report on Thursday.The report by Plum, India’s leading employee health benefits platform, showed that chronic illness hits working professionals by the age of 40. The report noted that 40 per cent of employees take at least one sick day each month for mental health reasons, and 1 in 5 are considering quitting due to burnout.
Alarmingly, the data reveals a consistent pattern across the onset of major health conditions: heart disease (by age 32), cancer (by age 33), diabetes (by age 34), chronic kidney disease (by age 35), cerebrovascular disease such as strokes, ischemia (by age 36).
This early onset not only threatens individual well-being but also puts long-term pressure on workforce productivity, healthcare costs, and India’s economic potential.
Chronic disease costs companies up to 30 days per employee every year in productivity losses and disengagement.
The report urged Indian companies to redefine “value” in employee benefits, prioritising prevention, holistic care, and addressing the unique needs of their workforce.
“We need to urge companies to think of healthcare beyond the transactional nature of insurance. True employee well-being lies in providing access to holistic healthcare solutions that encompass mental, physical, and social well-being,” said Abhishek Poddar, Co-founder of Plum.