No one relishes a tragic demise. A sudden end, leaving unanswered questions and disrupting the carefully curated facade of our world, is a spectacle that nobody wants to witness. Sadly, Anna Sebastian Perayil's passing was the epitome of such a tragedy. At the tender age of 26, this recently qualified chartered accountant, a shining example of academic excellence, had secured her dream role at Ernst & Young (EY), one of the revered "Big Four" accounting and professional services giants. However, a mere four months into her new position, she succumbed to a cardiac arrest. This untimely death sent shockwaves through the nation, sparking widespread outrage.
Anna's mother, in a heart-wrenching letter addressed to the chairman of EY India, asserted that the company's work culture played a pivotal role in her daughter's demise. The letter, which quickly went viral on social media, detailed Anna's relentless dedication to her work, her inability to say no, and the constant pressure she faced. This tragic incident reignited the long-standing debate about the detrimental effects of India's overwork culture on individuals' well-being. The chairman of EY India, while expressing his condolences, maintained that he did not believe work pressure was the cause of Anna's death. The Labour Ministry, however, announced an investigation into the circumstances surrounding her death.
The Price of Productivity: A Grim Reality
At the heart of the public outcry over Anna's death lay a profound disillusionment with the pervasive narrative of hard work leading to success, a narrative deeply ingrained in Indian society for generations. Anna's mother’s poignant words about her daughter's tireless dedication and inability to draw boundaries resonated with countless individuals, particularly young professionals. The implicit message was clear: Even unwavering dedication, even achieving seemingly insurmountable goals, might not be enough to protect individuals from the insidious grip of overwork.
The stark reality is that India, despite its growing economic prowess, is plagued by an endemic culture of overwork that is taking a heavy toll on its workforce. Statistics paint a grim picture: Indians are among the world’s most overworked populations, consistently ranking high in international surveys on burnout and long working hours.
India's Overwork Culture: A Global Comparison
A 2022 McKinsey report revealed that, across 30 countries, India boasted the highest rate of burnout symptoms, with almost 60% of respondents reporting feeling overwhelmed and exhausted. A similar McKinsey study conducted the year before had also found India leading the pack in burnout rates. In 2019, Mumbai was crowned the world's hardest-working city, while Delhi secured a respectable fourth place, trailing only Hanoi and Mexico City. And in 2018, Indians were found to be the most vacation-deprived individuals globally.
These disheartening statistics highlight a persistent pattern: India's overwork culture is a deeply ingrained issue, with little sign of improvement over the years. Even in the wake of a series of work-related suicides among young tech professionals in the early 2000s, which briefly sparked discussions about the impact of workplace culture on mental and physical health, the problem has remained largely unaddressed. The question remains: How long can we afford to turn a blind eye to this alarming trend? And at what cost?
The Deadly Toll: Long Working Hours and Early Deaths
The consequences of overwork extend beyond mere exhaustion and burnout. In 2021, a joint study by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the International Labour Organisation (ILO) unveiled a chilling link between excessive working hours and a significantly elevated risk of premature death.
The study, which analyzed occupational risk factors and their impact on health outcomes across the globe, pinpointed long working hours as the most significant contributor to mortality. The study found that working 55 hours or more per week was associated with a substantially higher risk of early death compared to working 35-40 hours per week. Shockingly, India was found to be the nation with the largest proportion of deaths attributable to long working hours.
“Work-life balance is not just a nice-to-have, it’s a necessity. It’s about creating a life that is both fulfilling and sustainable, and it’s something that we all deserve.” — Anonymous
The findings were alarming on several fronts. Firstly, the sheer magnitude of deaths in India attributable to long working hours dwarfed those reported in other countries. This was not solely a consequence of India's large population; even compared to China, India consistently registered higher mortality rates associated with excessive work. Furthermore, the data revealed a disturbing trend: the number of deaths linked to overwork was not decreasing.
Between 2000 and 2016, over 500,000 deaths in India could be directly attributed to long working hours. During this period, the rate of overwork-related deaths in India surged by 47%, significantly exceeding the global average increase of 29%. India's share of global deaths attributable to long working hours also rose from an already alarming 24% to 27%, reinforcing the gravity of the situation. While high-income economies witnessed a decline in work-related mortality, India, along with China and other developing economies heavily reliant on cheap labour, experienced a distressing rise in overwork-related deaths.
Beyond International Standards: India's Work Time Reality
International labour standards establish a maximum normal working week of 48 hours, with exceptions allowed but prohibiting a three-week average exceeding this limit. However, data on working time in India tells a starkly different story. More than half of India's workforce, a staggering 51.4%, works 49 hours or more per week, making India the nation with the second-highest proportion of overwork after Bhutan (61.3%).
India's average weekly working hours, clocking in at 46.7, place the nation among the top 15 countries with the longest work weeks. India's overwork predicament surpasses even countries with significantly lower per capita incomes, like Congo and Bangladesh. Only the United Arab Emirates and Qatar, both high-income economies, register higher average working hours than India. This underscores the pervasive nature of overwork in India, extending beyond economic necessity and into realms of social and cultural expectation.
The '996' Culture: A Global Comparison
India's work culture bears striking similarities to China's infamous "996" work culture, a brutal schedule demanding work from 9 am to 9 pm, six days a week, a practice famously endorsed by Chinese tech mogul Jack Ma. Similar to India, China has witnessed high-profile deaths linked to overwork, leading to public outcry and governmental intervention. In 2020, Chinese authorities stepped in to remind companies that the "996" schedule is illegal, with regular working hours capped at 44 hours per week. However, despite these official pronouncements, the "996" culture persists.
Who is Most at Risk?
In India, the information and communication sector, encompassing areas like computer programming, consultancy, information services, media, and telecommunications, stands out as the most overworked industry. ILO data reveals that workers in this sector log an average of 57.5 hours per week, almost nine hours more than the international labour mandate. This staggering figure highlights the relentless pressure faced by professionals in a sector driving India's digital economy.
The overwork epidemic isn't confined to the information and communication sector. Data shows that in 16 out of 20 work sectors categorized under the International Standard Classification of Occupations, workers routinely clock in 50 hours or more per week. Even professions like professional, scientific, and technical activities, encompassing areas like management consultancy, advertising, market research, legal and accounting services, architecture, engineering, scientific research, and technical activities, require their employees to work 55 hours per week, exceeding the recommended limit.
The Age Factor: A Disproportionate Burden on Younger Workers
A particularly poignant aspect of India's overwork culture is the disproportionate burden it places on younger workers. Data reveals that young professionals in India often work longer hours than their more experienced colleagues.
ILO data on working time demonstrates that, until their early 20s, Indian workers typically clock in almost 58 hours per week, with this figure only marginally decreasing to 57 hours by their mid-30s. It is only after crossing their mid-50s that workers experience a significant drop in working hours, to around 53 hours per week. However, even at this stage, they continue to work well beyond the international labour mandate of 48 hours. This suggests a long-standing culture of overwork that permeates the professional landscape, impacting both younger and older generations.
The Management Conundrum: Are Managers Exempt?
A common misconception is that managers, with their leadership roles, enjoy more flexible working hours. Data, however, reveals a more complex reality. Overall, those in managerial positions typically work about five hours more per week than those responsible for executing work (57 hours vs. 52 hours). In sectors like professional, scientific, and technical activities, which often involve management consultancy, the gap is smaller, with managers working just under two hours more per week than their subordinates. Interestingly, in the information and communication sector, which includes IT services, the pattern is reversed: managers work over an hour less per week than their direct reports.
This unexpected pattern, where managers work fewer hours than their subordinates, also occurs in public administration and general administrative sectors, challenging conventional notions of work-life balance in certain industries. However, it's important to note that, in absolute terms, managers don't benefit significantly from shorter working hours either. In almost every sector, managers still work 55 hours per week or more, exceeding the threshold identified by WHO and ILO as linked to early death.
The Economic Cost: A Productivity Paradox
The relentless pursuit of overwork in India raises a crucial question: how much does this excessive labor contribute to our GDP? The answer is a stark $8. Each hour of work in India contributes a mere $8 to the GDP, a figure that pales in comparison to other economies.
The irony is that long working hours can only translate into increased productivity if workers are able to maintain their efficiency. However, research consistently demonstrates that excessive work leads to decreased productivity, a fact that seems almost self-evident. However, in the face of pressing financial considerations, the focus often shifts from individual well-being to maximizing profits. The question arises: is this unsustainable model, where productivity is sacrificed for profit, truly a sustainable path for India's economic future?
A Global Perspective: The Productivity Advantage of Work-Life Balance
India's low labour productivity, hovering around $8 per hour, surpasses only small, low-income, and lower-middle-income economies. While India itself is classified as a lower-middle-income economy, this figure is surprisingly low, especially given the country's economic size. Competitors like Vietnam ($9.8 per hour), the Philippines ($10.5 per hour), Indonesia ($13.5 per hour), and even China ($15.4 per hour) all boast higher labour productivity, albeit still significantly lagging behind high-income economies. It is noteworthy that the vast majority of countries with significantly longer workweeks are low-income or lower-middle-income economies.
The Paradox of Outsourcing: A Double Standard?
The global economic landscape is characterized by a complex interplay of outsourcing and globalization, where work is often redistributed from high-income economies to lower-income and middle-income economies like India. While high-income economies, such as the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, and Japan, all maintain work-life balances with average weekly working hours well below the international labour mandate, these same economies leverage outsourcing to lower-income economies like India, often employing less stringent labor regulations and practices.
This practice of outsourcing creates a stark double standard, where the benefits of work-life balance and stricter labor protections are primarily enjoyed by employees in high-income economies, while the burden of excessive work often falls on workers in lower-income economies.
The Future of Work: A Call for Change
Anna Sebastian Perayil's tragic death serves as a stark reminder of the devastating consequences of India's overwork culture. Her story underscores the urgent need for a fundamental shift in how we view productivity and prioritize the well-being of our workforce. We must move away from a model that glorifies relentless work and embraces a culture that values work-life balance, sustainable productivity, and the inherent worth of every individual.
This requires a collaborative effort, involving corporations, policymakers, and individuals alike. Corporations must actively promote healthy work cultures, implement policies that encourage work-life balance, and prioritize employee well-being over profit maximization. Policymakers must review and strengthen labor regulations to ensure fairer working conditions and protect workers' rights. Individuals, too, must become more assertive in setting boundaries, prioritizing self-care, and advocating for a more humane work environment.
The future of work depends on our collective willingness to recognize the human cost of overwork and prioritize the well-being of our workforce. Can we create a future where productivity is not synonymous with exhaustion and where every individual can pursue a fulfilling life without jeopardizing their health? This is the question that confronts us today, and the answer will determine the future of work in India.
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