Bank of Baroda has launched a holistic wellness initiative to ensure the emotional, mental and psychological wellbeing of its 75,000-strong workforce. It has introduced an enhanced version of its Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) in collaboration with a corporate employee health benefits and wellness solutions provider.
The objective is to foster a thriving work environment that actively supports the overall wellbeing of the public-sector bank’s multi-generational employees, by addressing their diverse emotional wellness needs.
The EAP will also focus on aspects such as stress management using meditation and mindfulness for credit officers, addressing the emotional needs of women employees joining after a career break as well as mental-health roadshows for EAP awareness amongst employees.
The EAP offers confidential and one-on-one free counselling sessions with professional experts for employees and their dependents, that is, spouse and children, on issues such as anxiety, depression, stress, loneliness, personal issues and so on. Counselling sessions are also available via video and/or the 24×7 toll-free helpline, tailored to individual needs. Therefore, Immediate support and guidance is available round-the-clock.
There is a Wellness Corner mobile app, which offers mental-wellness assessments, mood trackers, AI-based virtual therapy sessions, guided wellness programmes, online chat and live/pre-recorded webinars. There are supplementary tools such as personal wellness dashboards, health trackers, and discounts on health-related services too. Enhanced tools for habit formation, goal setting and tracking are also available.
Shailendra Singh, chief general manager-HR and marketing, Bank of Baroda reveals, “We at Bank of Baroda were pioneers in introducing the Employee Assistance Programme way back in 2020 during the pandemic, which focusses on mental health as well as physical health. This year, we have taken the initiative a step further and have rolled out an enhanced edition.”
According to Singh, “By investing in the overall health of our people and their immediate family members, we are progressing towards a future where employee wellness is an integral part of corporate culture, leading to a happier, healthier and more engaged workforce.”