The Hidden Dangers of Work Pressure in India: Addressing Toxic Work Cultures and Burnout
In India, the pressure of work is taking its toll, and it’s doing so literally. A recent tragic incident highlights the dangers: a 26-year-old Chartered Accountant (CA) working at a reputed company like Ernst & Young returned home late one evening and collapsed from a heart attack. She had no prior health issues—just the pressure of work. Shockingly, none of her colleagues from the office attended her funeral.
Even India’s Finance Minister has spoken about the importance of stress management, urging that it be taught at home so that individuals can cope with the increasing work pressure. But the larger question remains: How can we handle the mounting pressure of work in India? Why is this pressure being created, and why is it not being discussed more openly? Why are Indian offices so toxic?
The Root Causes of Work Pressure in India
Through extensive surveys and discussions, we identified five key problems that contribute to the toxic work culture and intense work pressure many employees face in India. These issues, if solved, could prevent careers from becoming traps, save lives, and improve the overall workplace environment.
1. The Reward for Good Work is More Work
Indian corporate culture is built around the idea that if you perform well, you’ll be rewarded with more work. This mindset is drilled into young professionals, especially those in high-stress fields like CA. During articleship, many employees face grueling hours: CA final classes from 7 AM to 10 AM, followed by articleship work from 11 AM to 7 PM. Leaving the office at 6 or 7 PM was often seen as a “half-day,” despite completing all assigned tasks.
This culture is toxic and unsustainable. Managers often fail to recognize that working longer hours doesn’t equate to productivity. Quality should always be prioritized over quantity of hours worked. Unfortunately, toxic managers who equate long hours with hard work perpetuate this issue.
2. Favouritism and Face-Time Culture
Favoritism is rampant in many Indian offices, where some employees come early, play games like Candy Crush, and leave late just to claim free dinners and become favorites of the boss. This face-time culture values presence over productivity, leading to inefficient work environments. Employees are expected to stay late, regardless of whether they’ve completed their work.
In an ideal scenario, once an employee has completed their tasks for the day, they should be allowed to leave. However, this isn’t the case in most Indian offices, where late nights are viewed as a measure of dedication.
3. Gossip, Victim-Shaming, and Peer Pressure
Office gossip is another toxic trait of Indian work culture. Endless rumors circulate about employees’ personal lives, and both men and women participate in this behavior. Victim-shaming is also common, especially when it comes to inappropriate client behavior or office dynamics. In some offices, employees are even forced to drink alcohol at office parties under peer pressure. Those who refuse are labeled as anti-social or arrogant.
4. No Work-Life Balance
Many Indian offices have draconian rules around attendance, where even a minute’s lateness can result in a full day being marked as a day off. Such strict policies fail to take into account external factors like traffic or weather conditions. Even outside office hours, employees are often bombarded with work-related messages, making it impossible to maintain a healthy work-life balance.
In countries like the US, employees often have separate work phones and personal phones, and they leave their work phones at the office. But in India, office work invades personal life, leading to exhaustion and burnout.
5. Burnout: A Badge of Honour?
In India, stress is often worn like a badge of honor. Successful people are perceived to lead stressful lives, so those who don’t seem stressed are viewed as not serious about their careers. This has led to a normalization of 12-15 hour workdays, which eventually leads to burnout.
Burnout is a combination of exhaustion, cynicism, and low professional efficacy. If you find yourself feeling tired all the time, unable to sleep, and anxious about work, you may be on the verge of burnout. Simple tasks become overwhelming, and this has severe long-term health consequences, including heart attacks, diabetes, and mental health issues like depression.
Solutions to the Toxic Work Culture in India
To combat this growing issue, we need to focus on three primary “goalkeepers” in life: physical health, good sleep, and support from friends and family. These are essential for maintaining a balance and avoiding burnout.
Moreover, managers need to self-reflect and realize the impact their toxic behavior has on their employees’ lives. The burden of change lies with those in managerial positions who must foster a more humane and productive work environment.
Conclusion: Time to Act Now
In the end, the goal is to prevent work from becoming pressure. Stress, work-life balance, and burnout are critical issues for the future of India’s workforce. By acknowledging these problems and fostering healthier work cultures, companies can enhance productivity, employee satisfaction, and, most importantly, safeguard the well-being of their employees.
We encourage you to share your experiences in the comments section below. By doing so, you may help someone realize they’re not alone in their struggles and inspire positive change in their workplace.
FAQs
1. What are the main causes of work pressure in India?
The main causes of work pressure in India include toxic corporate cultures that reward employees with more work for good performance, favoritism and face-time culture, office gossip and victim-shaming, lack of work-life balance, and the normalization of burnout as a badge of honor.
2. How does the culture of rewarding good work with more work contribute to work pressure in India?
Employees are often given more responsibilities instead of recognition for good performance, leading to overwork. This toxic cycle, where long hours are equated with dedication, contributes to work pressure in India, leading to burnout and exhaustion.
3. What is face-time culture, and why does it contribute to work pressure in India?
Face-time culture prioritizes physical presence over productivity. Employees are expected to stay late at the office to prove their dedication, even if they have finished their tasks. This leads to inefficiency and added work pressure in India.
4. How does office gossip contribute to work pressure in India?
Office gossip creates a negative atmosphere by spreading rumors and engaging in victim-shaming. It undermines trust, adds to stress, and fosters an unhealthy work culture where employees feel unsupported, increasing overall work pressure in India.
5. What impact does a lack of work-life balance have on work pressure in India?
Without proper boundaries between work and personal life, employees face constant work pressure in India. Many Indian offices expect employees to be available outside of office hours, further diminishing their ability to rest and recharge.
6. How can burnout caused by work pressure in India affect long-term health?
Burnout, resulting from excessive work pressure in India, can lead to severe physical and mental health issues, including heart attacks, diabetes, insomnia, anxiety, and depression. It is the result of prolonged stress and exhaustion from an unmanageable workload.
7. What steps can companies take to reduce work pressure in India and prevent burnout?
Companies need to foster a healthier work culture by valuing productivity over long hours, encouraging work-life balance, promoting employee well-being, and eliminating toxic practices like favoritism and peer pressure to reduce work pressure in India.
8. How can individuals manage work-related stress and avoid work pressure in India?
Individuals can manage work pressure in India by focusing on maintaining their physical health, getting good sleep, and seeking support from friends and family. Setting boundaries between work and personal life and taking regular breaks are also effective strategies.
9. Why is burnout often seen as a badge of honor in the context of work pressure in India?
In India, stress is often associated with success, leading to a culture where overworking and burnout are seen as signs of dedication. This mindset pressures employees to accept unhealthy work practices and long hours, exacerbating work pressure in India.
10. How can employees address work pressure in India with their managers?
Employees can start by communicating openly with their managers about their workload and the work pressure in India they are facing. Proposing solutions like flexible hours, realistic deadlines, and prioritization of tasks can help alleviate work pressure in India and foster a healthier work environment.
Article Credit – Abhi and Niyu
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