Corporate Culture is killing Indian employees. Best steps to prevent burnout and remain healthy

India’s working population has increased from 59 to 63 percent, according to the report of (LFPR) Labour Force Participation Rate submitted in 2022. The estimated working population in India is 560 million and the working hours of an individual is reported 46.7 hours a week. India secures the second place in the world for extended working hours. This proves that many of the Indian workers are dealing with work overload and a severe burnout. For the past few years the growth of Corporate companies has been flourishing. The glorification of corporate culture which insists working all day in a week and even all night leads to a work-life imbalance and overwork. The consequences of this scenario gets worse with the suicides of many corporate employees.

The Corporate Culture which led to an EY employee’s death, Anna Sebastian Perayil, a Chartered Accountant who entered into this world with a dream of success. The letter which was written by her mother showcased the fatal reason behind Anna’s death. She was forced to do overwork with 14-hours shifts and seven days in the week. She was even mocked by her higher officials which broke her mental peace. The EY employee’s death was also highlighted indirectly in a speech delivered by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in Chennai which later received much backlashes from the opposition parties.

“Anna’s experiences sheds light on a work culture that seems to glorify overwork while neglecting the very human beings behind the roles” – Anita, Anna’s mother.

“Some sneer that Gen Z is simply unable to handle the work pressures that earlier generations took in stride. This attitude partly reflects the stigma still associated with mental-health issues, and leaves workers hesitant to seek help for fear of negative repercussions” – Shashi Tharoor, Indian politician who wrote in Project Syndicate.

Overwork and burnout in the work of corporate culture leads to the death of 2.96 million people around the world, says the International Labor Organisation (ILO). Among Indians who have been forced to follow the Corporate Culture motto of “all work and no play” which results in record-high burnout and mental depression in them. Overthinking, palpitations, body aches, gastric symptoms, restlessness are the most common symptoms of burnout. 

Indians are taught to work hard to build a great career and life for the future. Future gets fulfilled only with the presence of that person who hustled to build it. Limited mental support, tight deadlines, high-workloads and fear of career are the other dark shades of Corporate Culture. The health experts suggest a few preventive methods for burnout which must be included and followed in the Corporate Cultre.

• Prioritising wellness of workplace
• Offering and encouraging employees with vacation
• Carefully monitor work scheduling and workloads
• A healthy work-life balance
• Training Managers to identify and resolve an employee’s burnout
• Time off – personal & important life events