SLASSCOM’s CEO Breakfast Meeting sheds light on employee well-being and prioritising mental health

Panel discussion on how organisations can invest in the resilience and well-being of employees

SLASSCOM, the Sri Lanka Association of Software Services Companies, hosted a CEO breakfast meeting recently themed “Employee mental well-being”.

The CEO Breakfast Meeting commenced with a thought-provoking presentation by the SLASSCOM Chairman Ashique Ali, who emphasised the need for organisations to prioritise job satisfaction, provide organisational support and resilience training to their staff to create a positive work environment. He highlighted the importance of retaining staff, accelerating the skills of future talent, and expanding the talent pool.

Ali also shared valuable insights into the initiatives launched by SLASSCOM to address the country’s brain drain and highlighted how SLASSCOM is closely collaborating with universities and schools to create industry awareness and inspire young people to pursue careers in the IT/BPM industry.

 Great Place to Work in Sri Lanka Practice Head for Assessment Business & Client Services   Ruwani Alwishewa, provided valuable insights into how companies can take a comprehensive approach to promoting wellness in the workplace. This included creating a supportive work environment, fostering positive relationships among employees and providing access to resources that help them manage stress and build resilience. By providing organisations with a workplace wellness index and wellness assessment tool, she highlighted how Great Place to Work is contributing to the cause of enhancing employee well-being. The tools help companies measure their employees' perceptions on well-being and identify areas that require improvement. With this information, organisations can develop targeted interventions that address their employees' needs and create a more positive work environment that supports employee well-being.

SLASSCOM Vice Chairman, Infomate CEO and the SLASSCOM ESG Forum Board Representative Jehan Perinpanayagam, expertly moderated the panel discussion that followed the presentations. The panelists included 99x  Founder and CEO Mano Sekaram, Chartered Clinical Psychologist Dr. Malkanthi Hettiarachchi, senior lecturer in Psychiatry, consultant Psychiatrist and a volunteer at Sumithrayo Dr. Chamara Wijesinghe and  Great Place to Work CEO Kshanika Ratnayaka.

The discussion's primary objective was to help organisations comprehend the impact of mental health on their workforce and invest in the resilience and well-being of their employees. The panelists shared their extensive knowledge and expertise in the field of mental health and provided valuable insights into how organisations can support their employees' mental health.

The event also emphasised the relevance and linkage between SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals) and well-being, as well-being is one of the UN 17 SDGs. SLASSCOM, which embarked on an ESG journey in 2021, is focusing on helping many organisations drive ESG as one of their key priorities, with well-being falling under the social element of ESG.