Shark Tank India personalities Namita Thapar and Anupam Mittal recently found themselves at the center of a controversy over India’s work culture, particularly the ongoing debate about a 70-hour workweek. Their heated discussion on the topic, featured in an interview with Humans of Bombay, has sparked widespread interest and reignited conversations around work-life balance and productivity in India.
Is Work-Life Balance a Myth?
A recent survey by global job matching and hiring platform Indeed revealed that 88% of Indian employees are regularly contacted by their employers outside of work hours, with 85% stating that such communication persists even during sick leave or public holidays.
As India’s workforce navigates the challenges of an “always-on” culture, discussions around this issue have gained urgency to tackle increasing stress levels and employee burnout.
The survey also found that 81% of employers are concerned about losing top talent if they fail to uphold work-life boundaries. However, many employers feel the need to contact employees after hours due to factors like urgent project demands, tight deadlines, and stakeholder communication. Consequently, 66% of employers fear that productivity might decline if they commit to avoiding out-of-hours communication.