Nearly 50 percent corporate employees in India report high stress; orgs increase investment in workplace wellness: cult report

Bengaluru, May 22: Long work hours and the expectation of being available beyond office time are exacting a growing cost on India’s corporate workforce. Almost every second employee reports experiencing high stress, with many struggling to switch off, according to a new study by fitness and wellness platform cult.  

About 30% professionals admit to unhealthy coping mechanisms such as stress eating or excessive screen time, while 40% say they use fitness to manage stress, pointing to a growing link between wellbeing and performance.  In response, companies are now investing heavily in workplace wellness, cult’s independent workplace stress report, The Always On Epidemic, notes.

Similarly, the ‘Indian Enterprise Wellness Landscape Report’, commissioned by cult and conducted by Kantar, says the corporate wellness market across the top six metros – Bengaluru, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Delhi, Chennai and Kolkata  – is projected to cross Rs 4,000 crore by 2027, growing at a CAGR of 5.6%. This indicates that companies are moving employee wellness from a peripheral HR initiative to a core business priority.

Adoption is strongest among Global Capability Centres (GCCs) and BFSI firms.  Across corporate campuses, yoga is seeing strong uptake, with adoption rates ranging from 73% to 90%. In-campus gym facilities and gym memberships are also among the most widely implemented initiatives.

Bengaluru alone accounts for 23% of the total corporate wellness market, given the city’s high concentration of GCCs and technology companies, the report says.  

Investment in wellness pays back:

‘The Always On Epidemic’ report highlights a 300–600% return on investment through improved productivity, stronger talent attraction, reduced absenteeism and higher retention. Physical and health fitness continue to command the largest share of wellness budgets, although mental health and preventive healthcare services are gaining ground. As stress levels rise and attrition pressures mount, workplace wellness is turning out to be a practical response to a very real workforce challenge for many organisations. 

The reality behind the numbers:

While investments are rising, the cult’s independent report also reveals the strain beneath these investments. Only 19% of respondents fall into the “WFH Zen Zone”, defined in the report as employees who are finding balance, managing boundaries and feeling in control. A majority, 56%, are categorised as “Monday to 5” employees, present but not fully engaged. A further 24% are in the “Exhausted 12+ Hour” category, regularly working beyond sustainable limits and heading towards burnout. The gender gap, too, is notable. A whopping 72% of women reported elevated tension levels in comparison to 54% of men.  

Impact on retention and business:

The report also shows how limited personal time has become. About 60% of employees said they had only two to four hours a day for themselves, with work and work-related demands consuming the bulk of their time. Almost half (49%) of employees are actively seeking new opportunities. In addition, 34% report experiencing daily anger. Poor mental health is estimated to cost Indian employers approximately Rs 1.1 lakh crore annually due to productivity loss, absenteeism, turnover and healthcare expenses. The findings throw light on a broader shift in corporate strategy, with employee wellbeing increasingly recognised as a measurable driver of productivity, retention and long-term business resilience.