Paper Details

Name: Tarunpreet Kaur
Country: India

Year: 2026
Volume: Volume No: 13, Issue No: 1, Year: 2026
Page Number: 75-84
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.20351963

ABSTRACT
The COVID-19 pandemic reshaped organizational priorities, placing employee mental health at the forefront of strategic Human Resource Management (HRM). This study examines the surge in corporate investments in workplace mental health initiatives in India between 2022 and 2025, using secondary data from wellbeing reports, HRM surveys, and CSR disclosures. Findings highlight a significant increase in structured programs such as Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs), digital counseling platforms, and stress management workshops. Sectoral differences are evident, with IT and service industries leading investments, while manufacturing shows slower adoption. The study underscores mental health as a strategic HRM lever, linking wellbeing initiatives to employee engagement, retention, and organizational resilience. Implications for HR practitioners include integrating mental health into long-term HR strategies and aligning investments with productivity and sustainability goals.

Keywords: Human Resource Management (HRM); Workplace Mental Health; Corporate
Investment; Post-Pandemic HRM; Employee Wellbeing; Strategic HRM