CII Launches India Wellbeing Charter, Neerja Birla Calls For Employee Welfare To Drive Business Growth

Mumbai's CII has introduced the India Wellbeing Charter, advocating for employee wellness as a primary business concern rather than confining it to conventional wellness programs. The Charter was unveiled at the CII India Wellbeing Summit 2026 in Mumbai, gathering industry leaders, human resource experts and wellness specialists.

Neerja Birla, Chairperson of Aditya Birla Education Trust and Vision Chair of the CII India Wellbeing Initiative, emphasized that organisations must acknowledge the bond between employee wellbeing and enduring business success. "The question for us today is not whether we choose performance or wellbeing. It is how we create organizations that sustain both," she stated.

Birla stressed that employee welfare should impact workplace architecture, leadership choices, technological integration, and organizational culture. She added that businesses must strike a balance between performance goals and measures that safeguard employees' capability to sustain productivity over time.

According to a survey by Sudakshina Bhattacharya, President and Chief Human Resources Officer at HDFC ERGO General Insurance, conducted in collaboration with the CII, 86 percent of participants experienced happiness at work, while 66 percent highlighted physical well-being as an area needing more focus. Bhattacharya stressed that employee well-being should be incorporated into boardroom discussions concerning productivity, business risks, and organizational advancement.

Bhattacharya pointed out that leadership practices, workload management, and employee recognition directly affect workplace experiences. Citing World Health Organisation estimates, she highlighted that depression and anxiety cause 12 billion lost working days globally annually, leading to productivity losses of around USD 1 trillion. HDFC ERGO's internal analysis also revealed that high-performing employees who participated in wellbeing sessions experienced a 4 percent increase in retention.

The CII India Wellbeing Charter urges businesses to set quantifiable commitments, enhance workplace practices, and continuously evaluate employee experiences. The Charter also aims to extend well-being initiatives beyond corporate offices to manufacturing units, MSMEs, frontline workers, and shift workers. The Summit, themed "Building Thriving Organisations for a Resilient India," focuses on leadership, workplace culture, financial confidence, nutrition, and sustainable organizational performance.