ASSOCHAM

BUSINESS

BAROMETER

Corporate Workforce:
Chronic and Lifestyle Disease

APRIL 2009

Prepared by
Nusrat Ahmad
ASSOCHAM Research Bureau
Email: nusrat.ahmad@assocham.com
URL: http://www.assocham.org/arb/
 INTRODUCTION
For the eve of ‘World Health Day’, Assocham Research Bureau (ARB) focused on the
health problems perceived by the Indian corporate employees. ARB conducted a survey
targeting companies present in ASSOCHAM internal database, along with a random
sample of individuals, through field survey. (Refer Annexure I).

• In total ASSOCHAM received responses from around 200 companies across India.

• Total 210 corporate employees participated in the survey. The survey targeted only
those employees that are enrolled on companies pay roll (they are not employed on
temporary or casual basis; neither they are working from home).

• In terms of organization strength, respondents ranged from very small (6 employees) to

very large (1, 44,500 employees) company size.

• Survey targeted employees in the age bracket of 21-52 years, with work experience of 1-
25 years.

• The survey was conducted for two months period i.e December 2008–January 2009.

NOTE: As per the respondents request we have kept information strictly confidential
regarding individual and organization identity and analysis is done only in the aggregate.
54 per cent of the employees in IT/ITeS sector found to be unhealthy: ASSOCHAM
Survey

In a melting global economy, health conditions are too deteriorating of the corporate
employees engaged in sectors such as IT/ITes, media, market research/KPO, financial
services and telecom among others as revealed by the study conducted by ASSOCHAM
on the occasion of ‘World Health day’.

ASSOCHAM analyze the health issue of corporate employees engaged in 18 broad

sectors through survey based study “Corporate Workforce: Chronic and Lifestyle
Disease”, revealing that 54 per cent of the workforce in IT/ITes sector were found to be
afflicted to diseases such as depression, severe headache, obesity, chronic backache,
spondolysis, diabetes, hypertension etc.

On the eve of ‘World Health Day’, ASSOCHAM’s study based on the survey of 210
corporate employees from 200 various companies/organizations across 18 broad sectors
of the economy focused on the health issues of corporate workforce. The study
analyzed that, out of the 54 per cent un-well employees in the IT/ITeS sector, 23 per
cent of the sample population suffers with spondolysis and 16 per cent are afflicted to
depression. It was followed by obesity (18 per cent), sleeping disorder (20 per cent),
fatigue ness (13 per cent) and high B.P (9 per cent).

“Corporate employees have to survive the stiff global competitive environment to save
their jobs, adding pressure on their health leading to ‘silent diseases’ ”, said Mr. D.S.
Rawat, Secretary General, ASSOCHAM.

Fifty one per cent of the total survey respondents in the media sector reported to be
sick. Out of which, it was found that, 36 per cent are patient of high blood pressure, 29
per cent are afflicted to depression and 15 per cent are suffering with diabetes, nine per
cent have regular severe headaches.

Top 5 sectors
Sector Employees Chronic Condition
afflicted to
disease (%)
IT/ITeS 54 Spondolysis, depression, obesity, sleeping disorder
Media 51 High B.P, depression, diabetes
Market Research/KPO 50 Sleeping disorder, regular severe headache, obesity, depression
Financial Services 47 Fatigueness, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, sleeping disorder
Telecom 27 Obesity, diabetes, high B.P.
Source: Assocham Research Bureau Survey, 2009

At the third place, 50 per cent of the employees working in the market research/KPO
sector were found to be suffering with chronic and lifestyle disease. Out of which, 24
per cent have sleeping disorder, 17 per cent reported regular headaches with
fatigueness, 12 per cent are afflicted to depression and 9 per cent are suffering with
diabetes and obesity.

World Health Organization (WHO, 2002), estimated that overweight and obesity
account for 8-15 per cent of the burden of disease in industrialized countries, while high
cholesterol accounts for 5-12 per cent.

Financial Services emerged as the fourth hard hit sector with 47 per cent of total sick
employees. Out of which, 24 per cent suffer with high level of fatigueness, 18 per cent
are afflicted to diabetes, 14 per cent are patients of cardiovascular disease and 12 per
cent have problem of sleeping disorder.

As per National Sleep Foundation, sleeping disorder increases the chances of diabetes
by 81 per cent, hypertension (79 per cent), heart disease (78 per cent) and depression by
83 per cent.
Among the survey respondents, 27 per cent of employees working in the telecom sector
reported to be suffering with chronic diseases. Out of which, 18 per cent have problem
of obesity, 13 per cent are diabetic, 9 per cent have high B.P and 5 per cent report to
have stroke or heart disease.

However, the study found that comparatively few sectors reported very low per cent of
employees with severe health conditions, including education (9 per cent), FMCG (12
per cent) and textiles (15 per cent).

The National Commission on Sleep Disorders estimates that lack of sleep leads to
higher stress and reduced workplace productivity.
 Annexure I

Sectors
• The survey was able to target corporate employees from 18 broad sectors, with
maximum share contributed by employees from IT/ITes sector (17 per cent).
• After IT/ITeS sector, contribution of the survey respondents from financial services is
11 per cent. It includes employees engaged in banking sector, stock brokerage house,
insurance sector, financial consultancy and chartered accountants.
• Employees working in engineering and telecom sector contributed 9 per cent and 8 per
cent respectively in the questionnaire.
• Nearly 6 per cent of the employees belonged from market research/KPO and media
background each.

Sectors (Survey respondents belong to)

IT/ITeS
2%
Financial Services
2% 2%
Engineering
8%
17% Telecom
3%
Market Research/ KPO
3%
Media
4% 11% Management
FMCG
4%
Inf rastructure
Pow er
5%
9% Real Estate
Food & Beverages
5% Education
5% 8% Advertising

6% 6% Manuf acturing
Textiles
others*

*Others include employees from those sectors that have contributed >= 1 per cent share in the survey
(consumer durable, construction, energy, healthcare, steel and HR)
Source: Assocham Survey, 2009
 Annexure II
Corporate Workforce: Chronic and Lifestyle Disease

Age year(s) Total Work Experience year(s)

Name of the Organization

Sector Designation

Please tick (√) the appropriate circle for the following questions

Q1) In general, rate your health:

Excellent Very good Good Poor Bad

Q2a) Major disease you suffer: (Plz refer (*), after Q4)
Acute disease Chronic Disease Lifestyle disease All No disease

Q2b) Indicate the disease (s) you are suffering, if any:

Diabetes High blood pressure Low blood pressure Cervical Asthma

Tension Type Headaches Cancer Osteoporosis Arthritis Spondolysis

Slip Disk Heart Disease Chronic backache Obesity

Stroke No disease at all

If any other, plz mention……………………..

Q3) On a regular basis do you feel any symptoms of:

Sleeping disorder Fatigue Depression Regular Headaches
No such symptoms at all

Q4) How many hours do you sleep (on daily basis):

Less than 6 hours 6-8 hours above 8 hours

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The responses provided would be kept strictly confidential and analysis will be
done only in the aggregate. The information shall be used only for research purpose.

We appreciate your time and effort in completing the questionnaire.

Thanking You
* Reference for Q2

Lifestyle Disease Chronic Disease Acute Disease

Lifestyle diseases` is also called as A 'chronic disease' is Acute Disease' can be

‘diseases of longevity` or `diseases of defined as a ‘disease of defined as an illness that
civilization`. It is a disease associated long duration and is of short duration,
with the way a person or group of generally slow rapidly progressive, and
people lives. progression’ in need of urgent care.
It include diseases such as:
Depression Heart diseases
Obesity Cancer Influenza
Asthma Diabetes
Type 2 diabetes Hypertension (BP) Pneumonia
Cancer Chronic backache
Stroke Spondolysis Bronchitis
Heart disease Osteoporosis
Low Blood Pressure Leukemia
Diseases associated with smoking, Chronic respiratory bladder/urinary
alcohol and drug abuse diseases infection