Techtree News Staff, Dec 27, 2007 1537 hrs IST
IDC and Dataquest magazine recently conducted a survey of 1,749 employees across 19 outsourcing companies to reveal some alarming truths.
The success story of India's booming outsourcing industry may soon be eclipsed by critical problems plaguing the BPO space that include heart disease, depression, sleep disorders, and family discord, warn industry experts and doctors.
The BPO industry employs over 1.6 million young- men and women in the country. These 20- and 30- somethings rake-in more moolah than their contemporaries in other professions, but their sedentary lifestyles, coupled with long hours and stressful working conditions make them more vulnerable than others to heart disease, digestive problems, sleep disorders, weight gain, depression and other psychological disorders.
IDC and Dataquest magazine recently conducted a survey of 1,749 employees across 19 outsourcing companies, and they found that nearly 32 percent of employees complained of sleep disorders; 25 percent had digestive problems; and 20 percent suffered eyesight problems. What starts-off as sleep- and digestive- disorders more often than not balloons into major problems such as Hypertension, Diabetes, and heart disease, according to a majority of doctors.
A study by New Delhi-based 'Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations' estimates that two years back, heart disease, strokes, and Diabetes (now diagnosed as a lifestyle disease) cost the country nearly $9 billion in terms of lost productivity. The study expects the losses to grow to a staggering $200 billion over the next decade -- in the absence of corrective action. And, the outsourcing industry is expected to be hit the hardest.
So much so that at a public meeting last month, Union Minister for Health, Anbumani Ramadoss, said he wants to enforce a special health policy for employees in the information technology (IT) industry. The minister said that IT employees often work very hard, and party even harder, being prone to excessive smoking and drinking. He expressed concern over the possibility of these young people burning-out rather too soon.
While the industry lashed out at the minister's allegation, saying it had been unfairly singled-out for problems that also exist in other professions, the outsourcing industry in particular is beginning to sit-up and take notice of the various problems affecting it.
The National Association of Software Services Companies (NASSCOM), which is the main trade body of the outsourcing industry, said that many of its member firms are already providing employees with facilities such as health advice, gyms, and free check-ups.
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I work in IT Helpdesk for a company during night shifts. It is good to know that the government is taking steps to improve our health conditions. The policy will be a welcome one. But i also agree that other proffesions have similar medical issues. The policy should therefore be more general in nature. And i also think more of counciling is needed. We CAN afford to pay for most of the health centers and maintain a healthy (often expensive) diet. What we need is councilng and direction as to how to go about it. I mostly try to maintain my health based on tips i read on the internet. But this is not too motivating... :)
ZacH | BANGALORE | 28/12/07 05:11 AM | Report abuse Reply
As an erstwhile BPOite, I can say that this industry provides best of all the worlds. Good money, great work culture, awesome personal development , to name a few. However, the most dominant grey area is the health challenges faced by BPOites. The worst part being the lack of awareness amongst them and procastinating attention to their own health in case they do observe some symptoms. To my good fortune, while seeking help on health problems, I met with a wellness consultant and under her guidance I could regain my good health. Now its my mission to create health awareness and reach out to many people who need the knowledge to be healthy. Do write into me: ggn_kalia@yahoo.com (9911441762).
GAGAN KALIA | New Delhi | 29/12/07 10:31 PM | Report abuse
We are from the Dept of Mental Health and Behavioral Sciences of Max Healthcare. We work on the Organizational Psychology, there is a need to develop Clinical Perspective At Work, in-order to ensure to good health of employees.
Vikram Grover | Delhi | 27/12/07 05:23 PM | Report abuse Reply
Iv worked evening/night shifts while wrking for a BPO and experienced the health problems first hand. Fortunately I came across a welness consultant under who's guidance I retained my good health. Now I want to help many other BPOites to prevent the related health hazards. Do lemme know If I can be of ne help to you..
Gagan Kalia | New Delhi | 29/12/07 09:52 PM | Report abuse
Ya..the Message is absolutely perfect..And one more thing is it is not because of IT Boom or something..It is purely because of the young guys are just following the senior people in their project and started feeling pressure themselves. This becomes habit for them. Simply sitting for more than 8 hours, thinking like what i am going to do by returning to home so yearly and so on. This trend should removed like, cultivating in the young bloods.
Vijayakumar.V | Chennai | 28/12/07 09:20 AM | Report abuse Reply