(C): Unsplash
There is more to the work culture in India than just producing work, as there are legal guidelines surrounding it. Over 62% of the workforce suffers from exhaustion, while 88% expects calls regarding work even during non-working hours. While hustling may be revered in India, there are still rules imposed by the Indian Labour Laws, and your employer can be penalised for any violation.
Here are seven toxic work environment signs that would enable you to fight for your rights legally.
Working long hours without receiving appropriate compensation is the most commonly encountered issue that leads to a toxic work environment for Indian employees.
In case you are working more than 9 hours per day or more than 48 hours per week without being paid double overtime, this is against Indian labor laws and hence is an illegal activity under Indian labor laws.
It is important to record the hours you have worked. This includes recording your timesheets, emails, etc., which may be needed while filing a lawsuit in the labor court.
Phone calls after work, emails, and text messages are becoming an increasingly common phenomenon when talking about a hostile work environment in India.
Although there is no such thing as “right to disconnect” from work in India, yet working while resting breaks labour codes and safety rules. Moreover, this impacts your stress levels at work and your legal rights in India.
If one is handling the tasks of several people at once, then that indicates a workplace problem.
The management is required to ensure that there are no unreasonable demands or excessive workload. If you are overloaded, you have grounds for a lawsuit against your employer.
Report the unhealthy workload to your employer.
In India, it is within the rules of Indian labour laws to allow breaks and weekends off work. However, working without taking breaks is against both ethics and laws.
Make use of your free breaks and raise the issue using Indian labour laws for the welfare of employees.
“Bullying may be considered any emotional distress faced in the workplace, including verbal intimidation.”
According to the POSH Act, there is guaranteed protection from bullying and sexual harassment.
Proceed with the complaint against your boss by filing a case with the ICC panel.
Although you may be threatened with demotion, termination or poor performance appraisal by your boss in India when you make complaints about harassment, this is a severe labour law violation in the country.
Retaliation is one of the components of labour laws and can be raised in relation to your complaints about your abusive boss in India.
Keep records of retaliation and file a complaint against your boss or consult a lawyer.
Absence of or lack of an appropriate grievance redressal process is indicative of a toxic work environment.
There is an absolute necessity to have a proper grievance redressal process for employees in every company in India.
If the issue of grievance is not redressed, then approach external authorities, like the labour.
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If you experience any of these symptoms of a toxic work environment, then you should consider doing something about it.
A toxic work environment might affect your productivity and well-being. The labour laws of India have become more favourable for employees than ever before, especially the new labour code by 2026.
Knowledge of your rights according to labour law in India and employee rights will ensure that you speak up in such an unpleasant environment. In case your workplace is violating labour laws, then it’s both unfair and punishable.
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