Poor sleep quality of employees may cost India Inc. around ₹2.1 lakh per year: Survey

The health of India's corporate employees is increasingly becoming a cause of concern, as sleep, stress, and chronic diseases are draining the workforce, a study released on Tuesday revealed. Poor sleep translates into an average productivity loss of 11.3 days per year per employee, costing companies approximately ₹2.1 lakh annually, it added.

The study, 'India Workplace Wellbeing Report 2025: From Access to Outcomes,' was conducted by corporate wellness solutions provider Truworth Wellness, analysing health data from over 46,000 employees across industries.

It highlighted that about one in 10 employees suffers from sleep disorders, with the prevalence highest among those aged 23–39. Cardiac disorders are no longer confined to seniors, rising sharply in mid-life and increasingly visible even among those under 40, and obesity among young professionals is accelerating chronic health risks.

The survey noted how sleep deprivation, early onset of chronic diseases, and neglect of preventive care are undermining productivity during employees’ most productive years.

It also revealed a critical disconnect: while companies are investing heavily in wellness programmes, the outcomes are not matching the scale of investment.

It noted that cardiac disorders are no longer confined to seniors, with cases rising in midlife and becoming increasingly visible in individuals under age 40. Thyroid disorders remain significant before 40, while diabetes prevalence doubles with each decade, but is now surfacing even among employees in their 20s and 30s.

About 14% of employees are obese, with 71% of cases concentrated in the 25–35 age group. Obesity is strongly linked with comorbidities, including women’s health issues, thyroid disorders, and sleep disturbances, accelerating progression into more serious conditions. The study observed that, despite being the most vulnerable, younger employees (aged 20–29) are the least likely to undertake preventive health checks. About 70% in this group reported skipping screenings, delaying detection of high-risk conditions.

Recurring headaches, digestive problems, and seasonal infections, especially among younger staff, translate into thousands of lost productive hours annually, while older employees disproportionately face musculoskeletal and respiratory challenges.

“A decade ago, wellness meant insurance coverage or periodic health checks. Today, expectations are different. Employees and businesses alike need wellness programmes that are predictive, personalised, and outcome-driven. The report highlights that chronic conditions are striking earlier, everyday health issues are draining productivity, and preventive care is being overlooked,” said Rajesh Mundra, founder and executive chairman, Truworth Wellness.

“Companies with outcome-driven wellness programmes see 28% fewer sick leaves, 26% lower healthcare costs, and 11% higher revenue per employee. For every rupee spent, organisations save ₹289 in healthcare costs and ₹241 by reducing absenteeism,” he said.

Conducted in collaboration with People Matters, the report recommended that companies make sleep and stress the foundation of wellness strategies, adopt gender- and age-responsive health pathways, shift from participation metrics to outcome-based measures, and establish early-warning systems to detect health risks before they escalate into costly chronic conditions.