Citizens walk apart from one another near Seoul City Hall on Sept. 15, 2020. (Yonhap)
SEOUL, July 16 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korean companies are stepping up to address the so-called ‘corona blues’ spreading through the workforce.
With employees spending long hours at home following the enactment of contactless, work-from-home policies, companies are beginning to worry that depressive symptoms, anxiety, and burnouts could undermine their work efficiency.
Hanwha Systems Co., the defense and ICT unit of Hanwha Group, is now offering up to six free counseling sessions per year to employees, instead of eight times for the entire employment period starting this month.
The company also allows an unlimited number of family members of management staff to engage in counseling sessions.
South Korea’s leading steelmaker POSCO has deployed two professional counselors to its Pohang and Gwangyang plants, allowing employees, management staff, and even staff from affiliate companies to undergo counseling sessions.
Chemicals maker LG Chem Ltd. is offering a 24-hour contactless counseling program for 20,000 employees working abroad in some 50 branch offices in 17 countries this year.
Companies are stepping up to offer psychological support to employees and staff since the corona blues are now affecting business operations as the pandemic rages on.
The state-run Korea Workers’ Compensation and Welfare Service reported 517 cases of industrial hazards last year, rising by a whopping 56.2 percent from 2019.
Ashley Song (ashley@koreabizwire.com)
