New Delhi:

Swati Bose was ecstatic. After nailing a rigorous interview process, she landed a role in a digital marketing company. The first day was filled with smiles, introductions, and the promise of growth. But what began as a warm welcome quickly devolved into chaos – all it took was five days. Within five days, her optimism was replaced by toxicity at the workplace, tears, and ultimately, resignation. Her mental health took a nosedive, spiralling into depression.

Swati’s story, unfortunately, is far from unique. While she survived, some have suffered worse due to work-related stress.

Anna Sebastian Perayil, an Ernst & Young (EY) employee, allegedly died of stress four months after joining the company last year. Anna’s mother, Anita Augustine, wrote to Ernst & Young India Chairman Rajiv Memani and flagged a culture that “seems to glorify overwork while neglecting the very human being behind the role”.

Across industries, employees are battling toxic workplace environments that prioritise profits and performance over mental well-being. The recent remarks by SN Subrahmanyan, Chairman of L&T, have triggered debates about workplace culture and the cost of overworking. In a widely circulated video, Mr Subrahmanyan suggested that employees should work 90 hours per week, including weekends, to stay competitive.

‘Feed The Mule’ 

The notion of a 90-hour workweek, as suggested by Mr Subrahmanyan, harkens back to the coal-mining era when long hours spent inside a hole in the ground and covering both your face and lugs with coal dust were seen as a badge of honour.

“Even if it’s a four-day workweek or a seven-day workweek, 10-plus hours per day is not commendable at all. It is unhealthy, unsustainable, and ultimately counterproductive,” Niharika Rao, a 26-year-old techie, who quit her job at a global firm recently, told NDTV.

Mr Subrahmanyan is not the only industry giant who subscribes to that school of thought. Infosys boss Narayana Murthy, Tesla Chief Elon Musk, Ola CEO Bhavish Aggarwal and even Ratan Tata at one point or the other have advocated for longer working hours. 

“An average IT guy has a productive attention span of 2 hours out of the designated 8. Making him work 14 hours will reduce it to 1 hour. Making a mule carry a truckload of chickpeas won’t convert it into a horse; feeding it might have a chance,” said Tushar Mohanty, a 28-year-old senior data scientist in Bengaluru.

According to many surveys, an overwhelming number of Indian employees report experiencing workplace stress. A statistic from the Gallup Global Workplace Report 2024 reveals that 86 per cent of Indian employees feel either ‘struggling’ or ‘suffering’ in their roles. 
Data from the ADP Research Institute reveals about 76 per cent of Indian workers report that stress negatively impacts their work performance, while 49 cent cite detrimental effects on their mental health. Globally, 65 cent of employees echo similar sentiments about stress.

A similar study by the World Health Organisation (WHO) revealed that nearly one in four Indian employees suffer from work-related stress.

“There are countries that work fewer hours but achieve better results because their employees are well-rested. When employees are healthier, both cognitively and physically, their productivity increases. Corporates have no choice but to reshape their policies as younger generations demand better work-life balance,” said Shreya Kaul, a mental health counsellor, told NDTV.

Research consistently debunks the myth that longer hours lead to higher productivity. In fact, overwork often results in burnout, reduced efficiency, and a host of physical and mental health issues.

“Productivity comes from motivation and interest in the work, not from sheer hours spent. Each individual has unique drivers, and forcing long hours on them often strips away that zeal,” Ms Rao said.

“In every workplace I have been in, there has been some form of toxicity-whether sexism, favouritism, or other issues. It becomes a bigger problem when toxic behaviour comes from senior management,” she added.

Generational Divide 

Ms Rao recounted how certain senior leaders fostered an environment of fear and favouritism, making it difficult for employees to perform without anxiety. When asked if her former workplace provided adequate support for mental health challenges, she said: “No, not at all. Many companies might offer a monthly mental well-being day off, but it’s mostly performative. Genuine awareness and support for mental health are sorely lacking.”

“In client environments, stakeholders and senior leadership treat you as cattle fodder. Humans are dispensable resources for them – make them work on weekends, public holidays, extended hours but bill them for only 8. In the end, they keep all the profits. Verbal abuse in group meetings has become normalised,” Mr Mohanty said.

Ms Rao also shed light on age-based discrimination, a subtle but pervasive issue in many workplaces.

“It’s often passive-aggressive. Older colleagues sometimes make dismissive comments, like, ‘You don’t know enough because you haven’t been around as long as we have.’ They disregard my opinions and undervalue my contributions,” she explained.

The generational divide often becomes even more pronounced during interactions with senior colleagues. According to many young workers,  senior leaders’ resistance to new ideas often stifles innovation and collaboration.

“The age gap often plays a role. Colleagues who are closer to my age are more open to new ideas, but those 10-15 years older tend to be dismissive. It’s especially challenging when these individuals are in senior management roles,” Ms Rao said.

Millennials and Gen Z, who now form a major portion of the workforce, prioritise work-life balance and mental well-being over the traditional “hustle culture.”

“The older generations were taught that hard work equates to success,” Ms Kaul explained. “This cultural mindset glorifies overwork -‘jitna ghisengey utna better lagega logon ko’ (the more you grind, the better you’ll be perceived). But younger generations are challenging this narrative, advocating for balance and mental health.”

Ms Rao recounted a recent incident where her efforts to foster a healthy work-life balance for her team clashed with her senior manager’s expectations.

“My senior staff wanted me to adopt toxic behaviours towards my team, like micromanaging and overloading them with work. When I refused, I was threatened with replacement. I was even told my appraisal and promotion could be affected. Feedback is now a minefield I’d rather avoid,” she said.

Gen Z professionals often feel immense pressure to prove themselves. This often leads to overwork and, eventually, burnout. Organisations can address this by providing clearer growth paths, mental health support, and flexible work arrangements. Simple measures like team outings and informal interactions can also help younger employees decompress.

“Companies should regularly check in on employees, not just about work but about how we’re feeling mentally. Providing access to counselling services and creating a supportive environment where employees can openly discuss stress would help immensely,” Noopur Goyal, a 24-year-old Public Relations official.

Stress, Then Guilt

Managing stress in such a hostile environment is a tall task. Some face guilt for taking time off while some feel taking vacations or personal time off would send the wrong message to bosses who they think would perceive them as “unprofessional”.

“I have found solace in forming small support groups with colleagues who share similar struggles. We vent, share our experiences, and leave office trauma behind before heading home. It’s been incredibly therapeutic,” Ms Rao said. “It feels like a crime to ask for leave because there’s no one to take on my responsibilities. My team often bears the brunt of my absence, which only adds to my guilt.”

India is a country of over 1.4 billion. Unemployment coupled with a lack of opportunities means no one is indispensable. Resign and there are thousands if not lakhs to replace you in a second. 

“India, as a country and culture, has generally always been very end result-oriented. We tend to prioritise results over the process. This consequence-driven mindset often leads to many misassumptions,” explained Ms Kaul.

The lack of safety measures and inadequate handling of harassment complaints are often recurring themes in employees’ lives. 

“Every office has someone whose behaviour makes you feel like you’re on the verge of resigning or losing your job. It’s exhausting and deeply unsettling. My first company had some measures in place, but most others have been woefully inadequate,” Ms Rao said. 

Despite companies scheduling countless workplace sensitisation or Prevention of Sexual Harassment (POSH) training sessions, the question still remains: Are we doing enough? 

(Names of workers have been changed to protect their identities)

Serum Institute of India CEO Adar Poonawalla has weighed in on the ongoing debate about work-life balance, advocating for the importance of quality over the quantity of work hours. Mr Poonawalla, in a social media post, echoed Mahindra Group Chairman Anand Mahindra’s sentiment, saying, “Yes [Anand Mahindra], even my wife [Natasha Poonawalla] thinks I am wonderful, she loves staring at me on Sundays. Quality of work over quantity always. Work life balance.”

Yes @anandmahindra, even my wife @NPoonawalla thinks i am wonderful, she loves staring at me on Sundays. Quality of work over quantity always. #worklifebalance pic.twitter.com/5Lr1IjOB6r

— Adar Poonawalla (@adarpoonawalla) January 12, 2025

His comment, made on X, followed Mr Mahindra’s recent remarks saying that it’s not about working 48, 70, or 90 hours a week, but rather the output produced. “My wife is wonderful, I love staring at her,” Mr Mahindra had said, taking a dig at Larsen & Toubro (L&T) Chairman SN Subrahmanyan’s latest comments.

Mr Subrahmanyan recently sparked backlash with his suggestion that employees should work 90-hour weeks, even on Sundays, to remain competitive. He said that he regretted that L&T employees weren’t working on Sundays, saying, “If I can make you work on Sundays, I will be more happy, because I work on Sundays also.”

He further questioned, “What do you do sitting at home? How long can you stare at your wife? How long can the wives stare at their husbands? Get to the office and start working.”

Mr Subrahmanyan’s comments also drew criticism from other quarters, including RPG Group Chairman Harsh Goenka, who mocked the suggestion of a 90-hour workweek, calling it a “recipe for burnout, not success.” Mr Goenka said, “Why not rename Sunday to ‘Sun-duty’ and make ‘day off’ a mythical concept!” He added that work-life balance isn’t optional and urged people to “work smart, not slave.”

Former Indian badminton star Jwala Gutta also strongly criticised Mr Subrahmanyan’s comments, labelling them “misogynistic.” On social media, Ms Gutta questioned why spending time with one’s spouse should be seen as a problem, asking, “Why shouldn’t he stare at his wife… and why only on a Sunday?”

The debate has even drawn attention from actor and mental health advocate Deepika Padukone, who called the remarks “shocking” coming from someone in a senior position.

Infosys founder Narayana Murthy has also previously argued in favour of long workweeks, suggesting that employees should be prepared for up to 70-hour workweeks.

After facing strong backlash over its Chairman SN Subrahmanyan’s suggestion to employees to work 90 hours a week — including Sundays, the L&T said on Friday that the Chairman’s remarks reflect the larger ambition of nation-building, “emphasising that extraordinary outcomes require extraordinary effort”.

In a video message to employees that went viral on social media, Mr Subrahmanyan said: “What do you do sitting at home? How long can you stare at your wife? How long can wives stare at their husbands? Go to the office and start working”.

“Honestly, I am sorry that I am not able to make you work on Sundays. I will be happier if I can make you work on Sundays, because I work on Sundays too,” said the L&T Chairman.

A company spokesperson said in a statement that for over eight decades, “we have been shaping India’s infrastructure, industries, and technological capabilities”.

“We believe this is India’s decade, a time demanding collective dedication and effort to drive progress and realise our shared vision of becoming a developed nation,” said the spokesperson.

“The Chairman’s remarks reflect this larger ambition, emphasising that extraordinary outcomes require extraordinary effort. At L&T, we remain committed to fostering a culture where passion, purpose, and performance drive us forward,” the spokesperson further stated.

In his video message, Mr Subrahmanyan encouraged L&T employees to work harder. He spoke about a conversation he had with a Chinese man who said that China could overtake the US because of its strong work ethic.

According to Mr Subrahmanyan, the Chinese man said, “Chinese people work 90 hours a week, while Americans work only 50 hours a week.”

The video received a backlash from netizens on social media platforms, including online discussion forum Reddit, with many users comparing it to Infosys founder Murthy’s statement about working 70 hours a day.

From Bollywood superstar Deepika Padukone to Harsh Goenka, Chairperson of the RPG Group, top celebrities also condemned Mr Subrahmanyan’s remarks.

“90 hours a week? Why not rename Sunday to ‘Sun-duty’ and make ‘day off’ a mythical concept! Working hard and smart is what I believe in, but turning life into a perpetual office shift? That’s a recipe for burnout, not success. Work-life balance isn’t optional, it’s essential. Well, that’s my view! #WorkSmartNotSlave,” Mr Goenka posted on X.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)