ICAI Takes Initiatives For Stress Management And A Healthy Work-Life Balance

Amid the fast-growing world where life standards are rising and to maintain this rising level of living people generally overburden themselves, which sometimes leads to stress and creates an imbalance between work and life. To address the urgent need for work-life balance and stress management in the profession the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) has reaffirmed its commitment by several initiatives.

According to CA. Ranjeet Kumar Agarwal, President, ICAI, “Employees are the backbone of any organization, and their well-being is essential to its long-term success. We strongly urge Organisations to implement balanced work policies that promote employee health and reduce stress. By prioritizing the mental and physical well-being of their workforce, organizations can foster a more productive, resilient, and innovative environment”.

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Towards this end, ICAI has come up with a dedicated group headed by Seema Gerota, Additional Director on Work-Life Balance and Stress Management to introduce measures aimed at improving work-life balance and managing stress in the profession.

Also, ICAI has organized several health and wellness programs for health awareness camps, webinars on stress management, yoga sessions, motivational conferences, marathons, and walkathons to promote mental and physical wellness.

ICAI will also launch a Grievance Redressal Cell to address concerns from members, students, and employees to enhance the system for a more structured and empathetic resolution. It will also conduct regular workshops, webinars, and awareness campaigns to promote physical activity, mindfulness, and emotional well-being with a focus on managing professional commitments while balancing them with personal life.

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The CA institution will introduce stress management programmes with health institutes including counselling services and mental health support for members and students. It will also collaborate with industry partners to promote flexible work models such as remote working, flexible hours, and wellness programmes, to find personal and professional life balance.

A peer support network will also be formed where members can share experiences, seek advice and collaborate to address challenges related to stress management. The institute also plans to set up a dedicated counselling help desk within its National Call Centre to assist members with stress management and work-life balance concerns.