By Lekha Rattanani
Long hours, stress and burnout in the workplace is well known. But after two recent deaths, the work culture taking root in India needs to be urgently addressed. The case in July of a young Pune-based chartered accountant who was literally worked to death and the more recent suicide of a software engineer in Chennai after reportedly struggling with depression and work pressure for months have revealed the true nature of thriving companies. Here we see examples of businesses that present as modern-day growth beacons on the outside but on the inside are essentially sweatshops built on the hard labour of those who do not have a voice in the system – the talented youth of India.
Last week, Karthikeyan, 38, was found wrapped in live wire at their Chennai home by his wife Jayarani who had returned from a trip. He left his two children with their maternal grandparents before electrocuting himself, according to reports. Family members spoke of work pressure causing depression, for which he was under treatment for the last two months. Karthikeyan was in a new job after leaving a software firm operating from Chennai, where he had worked for 15 years.
In July, Anna Sebastian Perayil, 26, collapsed after suffering what clearly is a case of toxic work culture. This is the story of the horrors of what appears to be a normalised modern-day, sleep-deprived work culture, recounted in all its shocking detail by her mother. Anna passed the CA qualifying examinations with distinction, but four months into her job with Ernst & Young, the chartered accountant collapsed.
In a letter to Ernst & Young India chairman Rajiv Memani, Anna’s mother Anita Augustine placed on record that everyone in the company knew that she was being put under a manager marked for unprofessionalism. She wrote: “Anna, in fact, had received several warnings regarding her manager from colleagues: Her manager would often reschedule meetings during cricket matches and assign her work at the end of the day, adding to her stress. At an office party, a senior leader even joked that she would have a tough time working under her manager, which, unfortunately, became a reality she could not escape.” This is particularly damning because it shows that EY knew, tolerated and perhaps even encouraged this manner of working, raising new questions on the lack of professionalism at a company considered one of the global “big four” of accounting firms. Should India allow these companies to have this free run? Why should the Chairman not be held to account for what has gone wrong? How many inquiries are on? And what has EY done in the matter so far, other than speaking about its commitment to ”nurturing a harmonious workplace”
While EY is a global firm, India’s home-grown technology sector has seen an exponential growth trajectory by rising from a very different ethos and background. It has played a key role in driving the country’s economy forward. It held its own especially during the pandemic, delivering with speed and efficiency by turning its vast workforce into a work from home army which now worked even longer hours since they didn’t have to travel to the workplace. The widespread transition to telecommuting also allowed companies to give up expensive rented space increasing profits.
As life returned to normal and offices filled up, many in the IT sector have been able to keep remote work going. However, the hours employees put in have not decreased, and the stress is growing. A study earlier this year titled “Burying the Burnout: Decoding the Health Challenges of India’s Tech Geniuses” found that 43% of Indian techno-professionals experience health concerns directly stemming from their work. Long working hours emerged as a significant contributor to these health issues with over 50% tech professionals working an average of 52.5 hours per week, surpassing the national average of 46.7 hours a week (this still places India among the countries with the longest working hours). The study by ‘Onsurity’, an employee healthcare platform and the ‘Knowledge Chamber of Commerce and Industry’ says repercussions of such prolonged working hours are severe. More than half the respondents reported experiencing adverse health effects including acidity, gut problems, back and neck pain, erratic sleep cycles and eyesight related issues. Mental health concerns were also prevalent with 45% of tech professionals disclosing struggles with stress, anxiety and depression.
Such reports may not have caused much worry earlier. But not anymore as the shock and outpouring of criticism have left the government with no option other than to sit up, notice and act. The union labour ministry has announced an investigation into the case of Anna Perayil and the work culture at EY that affected her health and ultimately took her life. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman finds herself in a slug out with opposition parties for suggesting that educational institutions and parents should help children build inner strength to face challenges and solve problems at work rather than crumble under them.
At a time like this, the harm caused by the words of NR Narayana Murthy, co-founder of tech giant Infosys, must come to mind. He had famously asked that the youth of India work 70-hour weeks to help increase national productivity. We can see that sweatshops do not increase productivity; they kill innocent citizens.
(The writer is the Managing Editor of The Billion Press) (Syndicate: The Billion Press) (email: [email protected])