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Wednesday, April 10, 2013

42% private sector employees suffer from lifestyle diseases: Survey

KOLKATA: Due to demanding schedules, high stress levels and performance-linked perquisites in private sectors, nearly 85% of employees in private sectors are afflicted to life-style, chronic diseases and acute ailment compared to government employees who are ranging below 8%, according to a recent survey conducted by Assocham on the occasion of 'World Health day'.

Assocham's survey reveals that 42% are afflicted to lifestyle disease, followed by 38% suffering from chronic disease and remaining 15% have an acute ailment in the private sector.

While releasing the Assocham survey on "Government vs Private employee health scenario", Mr D S Rawat, secretary general Assocham said, there is due compensation for increased inflation by way of dearness allowance (DA) to government employees whereas, the private sector is by and large out of this facility."

The findings on the government employees reveal very positive features ranging from reasonably good health, family stability, cordial relationship etc, adds the survey. The survey further points out there are many schemes in healthcare for government employees in addition to pension which reflects better health standards in government jobs.

Around 55% of the survey respondents fall under the age bracket of 20-29 years, followed by 30-39 years (26%), 40-49 years (16%), 50-59 years (2%) and 60-69 years (approximately 1%).

The report included major cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Ahmedabad, Hyderabd, Pune, Chandigarh, Dehradun etc. A little over 200 employee were selected from each city on an average. Mumbai ranked first afflicted to high levels of stress in private sector followed by Delhi (2nd), Ahemdabad (3rd) Chandigarh (4th), Hyderabad (5th), Kolkata (6th) and Chennai (7th), etc.

The survey was able to target private employees from 18 broad sectors, with maximum share contributed by employees from IT/ITes sector (17%).

Employees working in engineering and telecom sector contributed 9% and 8% respectively in the questionnaire. Nearly 6% of the employees belonged from market research/KPO and media background each. Management, FMCG and Infrastructure sector employees share is 5% each, in the total survey. Respondents from power and real estate sector contributed 4% each. Employees from education and food& beverages sector provided a share of 3% each. Advertising, manufacturing and textiles employees offered a share of 2% each in the survey results.

"Rising cases of marital disputes and aberrated relationship contributing to high level of stress as reflected in increased serious health problems", adds Dr. B K Rao, chairman of Sir Ganga Ram Hospital and Assocham Health Committee.

The increasingly demanding schedules and high stress levels are leading to sleep disorders in private sector. Loss of sleep has wide ranging effects including daytime fatigue, physical discomfort, psychological stress, performance deterioration, low pain threshold and increase absenteeism. The survey further points out that nearly 45% of the corporate employees in private sector sleep less than 6 hours on a daily basis due to work related pressure.

Around 58% of corporate employees in private sector are deeply concerned about their future health, 38% are most of the time fearful regarding their future health conditions and rest 4% are not at all fearful about their future health, adds the Assocham Survey.

According to the survey, only 10% employees in private sector have medical insurance, and much of it is inadequate. Nearly all private health service providers require families to spend out-of-pocket at the point of service. This leaves people, highly vulnerable. "Without adequate financial support from the private organization, health remains a major cause of financial insecurity", adds Rawat.

In terms of the physical fitness, it was found that around 57% of the employees in the private organization said they 'do not exercise at all', 23% do physical workout devoting less than 1 hour/week, 12% of the employees exercise for 1-3 hours/week, 8% of employees exercise for 3-6 hours/week and merely 7% stay fit by exercising for more than 6 hours/week. The majority of the government employee said that they 'do exercise' and physical workout to stay fit by exercising for more than 8 hours/week.

Work-related stress can be defined as any level of mental or physical strain that is gained due to pressures in the profession. Work stress is given much impetus since it directly affects the private sectors, adds Rawat.

April-March 2013
Health condition Private Employee (in %) Government Employee (in %)
High B.P 65 13
Stress 45 7
Spondolysis 25 5
Heart ailment 45 12
Asthma 55 6
Arthritis 65 20
Slip Disk 45 3
Diabetes 45 7
Others* 12 11
* Others include: stroke, minor paralytic attack, skin disease, chronic liver disease, stomach disease
 Source : http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com

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