The most profound shift: the Information Age will be succeeded by a “Wisdom” or “Human” Age: as robots and Artificial Intelligence coopt many work tasks, qualities not replicable by machines (collaboration, creativity, empathy, constant learning, etc.) will be in high demand. And these qualities demand the highest level of mental and physical wellness.

The Global Wellness Institute, 2016

Only 9% of the global workforce has access to job well-being programs.

The wellness at work market was worth $48 billion in 2017, projected to grow to $66 billion in 2022. Still, only 9% of the global workforce has access to some form of wellness program at work*.

Even if my company is active in this market, I do not think wellness programs are the answer to the workers’ unwellness. The answer is first of all employers’ awareness and sense of responsibility towards the work conditions and state, not only of their people but also their suppliers’ and stakeholders’. If we do business, we should be responsible of the impact we produce with our business on the whole community.

Every business owner is responsible for the well being at work.

The impact starts with the intention and sense of responsibility of each person involved in the process. That’s why this is a matter of self-responsibility. Each of us should make herself/himself some key question: do we seek to produce wellness and health with the implementation of our core business? Are we aware of the impact of our business on every stakeholder and part of community involved? At least, do we seek actively such awareness? How much do we care about this topic? I think that it has to be prevalent: the priority of each entrepreneur, executive and worker.

Economic insecurity, physical or emotional discomfort.

The Global Wellness Institute reports that most of the world’s 3.4 billion workers are unwell. They live with serious economic insecurity: 74% make less than $13/day; 45% are in low-skill/manual jobs; 77% are in part-time or unstable jobs. They’re aging at an historic rate: 18% of the workforce will be over 55 by 2030. They’re unhealthy: 52% are overweight/obese, and 76% report they’re struggling with their wellbeing.

Worldwide, the cost of unwell workers represents 10-15% of global economic output.

The answer is self-responsibility and a Buddhist awareness that we are all connected: no one of us can be really healthy and happy if so many others are unhappy and unhealthy. It’s a mere illusion, and not caring enough is a very bad social action.

Niccolò Branca, the President and CEO of Branca International, has written extensively on this topic in his recent book, “Economia della consapevolezza”.

 

Alessia Tanzi

 

*The Global Wellness Institute Statistics