Employ more women in offshore jobs, says a new study
Women have greater level of happiness and participation than men in remote rotational works, Hence more recruitment of women in offshore jobs is required as well as in other remote rotational jobs suggests a new study. Employment of women is very low in remote rotation workforce that includes mining, offshore, seafaring and maritime industries.
Why more women in offshore jobs?
According to the study the women working in remote rotation workforce have better mental health and wellbeing than men, therefore more strategies are required to encourage women to opt for remote rotational work. Only 16% of those who participated in the survey were women.
The study also says that the mental ill health is high in this workforce, but the diagnosis and treatment is very low. At work 62% had worse mental health than would be the normal in a population. Hence, there should be a more openness in the organization regarding mental health.
Another disturbing fact is that 1 in 5 are feeling suicidal all or most of the time. Therefore, the organizations should develop a process of monitoring and evaluating mental health and wellbeing.
One significant suggestion was to review flexible working policies and arrangements as it was observed that during the covid pandemic many remote rotational workers were able to do a proportion of their work at home.
Burnout was another matter of concern
The study also exposed that almost a quarter (23%) of the remote rotational workers surveyed experienced emotional exhaustion or burnout on a weekly basis.
In her recent article, ‘Burned Out People Will Keep Burning Up the Planet’, Arianna Huffington says, “It’s clear that the way we live and work is not only burning us out, but causing us to make decisions that are destroying our own health and the health of our planet.”
The study, ‘Mental Health and the Remote Rotational Workforce’, was conducted by International SOS that deals with remote workforce for large MNC organizations around the globe that has people working in water, land or air.
Dr Rahul Kalia, Medical Director, India, International SOS, commented, “While physical health receive wide visibility, there is an urgent need for increased focus, understanding and strategies to identify and mitigate prevailing mental health issues in order to promote better metal health of the remote rotational workforce. This is highlighted in our survey, which uncovers significantly high levels of critical mental ill health issues, including suicidal thoughts and depression.”
While the 200 surveyed included 59% workers from Asia, 70% of all the respondents were married.
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