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Police are currently investigating the death of a Standard Bank employee who fell from the company’s Rosebank offices in Johannesburg last week.

The incident has left both colleagues and the community in shock as authorities work to uncover the circumstances surrounding the fatal fall from the building’s sixth floor.

Police spokesperson Lt-Col Mavela Masondo said via TimesLIVE that police have opened an inquest docket after an employee of the bank fell from the sixth floor of the building, adding that an investigation is underway to determine what caused her to fall.

Standard Bank confirmed the death of the employee at their Baker Street offices and said they are participating in the investigation with authorities.

“We remain committed to supporting those affected. We extend our deepest sympathies to our colleague’s loved ones,” the bank’s statement read.

Although the exact circumstances of the death remain unclear, many on social media have weighed in, reflecting on the pressures of the corporate world. Numerous users urged others to prioritise their mental health, highlighting the often unseen toll of high-stress work environments.

“I worked at Standard Bank for five years before getting an offer elsewhere. There used to be good structures to help us with our mental health issues. I hope the structures are still there,” said Pius Wa Muchangani.

Please encourage your staff to seek help …I know another person working at your bank that’s dealing with mental health issues. Make this a priority please.

— Rain (@nettiegirl25) October 13, 2024

This incident follows World Mental Health Day, which took place last week, with this year’s theme aptly being mental health in the workplace.

This year’s #WorldMentalHealthDay theme is #MentalHealth at #Work, and it’s more crucial than ever for organizations, including giants to truly listen. The signs are often there, long before the tragedy. It’s time to prioritize mental health in the workplace #MentalHealthMatters

— TheAwesomeCoach (@awesomecoach) October 13, 2024

The South African Depression and Anxiety Group (Sadag) recently conducted a ‘Working Life’ online survey, gathering insights from 963 employees across various sectors, including education, health, finance, and media. The findings paint a troubling picture of workplace dissatisfaction and stress in the country.

A striking 60% of respondents expressed a desire to quit their jobs if they could afford it, while 50% admitted to feeling unhappy about returning to work on Mondays.

Sadag further highlighted the widespread nature of mental health issues among South African workers, with 52% of employees reporting a medically diagnosed mental health condition. The most common concerns were depression (32%), clinical stress (25%), general anxiety (18%), and burnout (13%).

So, the bank doesn’t have measures in place to deal with mental health issues? Could it have indirectly contributed to this incident (for example, the working conditions were not conducive)?

— Prof Jamil Mujuzi (@MujuziProf) October 14, 2024

[source:timeslive]