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The tragic death of Anna Sebastian, a young chartered accountant allegedly due to work-related stress, has spotlighted the issue of excessive working hours and poor work-life balance in India’s corporate sector. Her mother’s statement, describing the unbearable pressures on employees as ‘working like slaves,’ reflects the high levels of stress and burnout faced by professionals. This incident underscores the urgent need for systemic changes to ensure that corporate work culture prioritises employee well-being and sustainable work-life practices.

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How Excessive Working Hours Undermine Personal Well-Being and Professional Integrity

Personal Well-Being

• Increased Health Risks: Long working hours elevate stress levels, leading to burnout, cardiovascular diseases, and mental health issues like anxiety and depression.
  For example: Studies reveal that employees working over 55 hours per week have a higher risk of heart disease compared to those with balanced hours.
• Reduced Quality of Life: Excessive work hours limit time for family, hobbies, and relaxation, impacting overall life satisfaction and mental health.
  For example: A large section of the IT workforce reports missing family events due to extended work commitments, affecting personal relationships.
• Sleep Deprivation and Fatigue: Long hours disrupt sleep patterns, leading to chronic fatigue and reduced cognitive function.
  For example: Corporate employees often report an average of 5-6 hours of sleep, lower than the recommended 7-8 hours, resulting in decreased productivity.
• Increased Dependence on Stimulants: To manage extended hours, many employees resort to caffeine or stimulants, risking long-term health consequences.
  For example: Most of the corporate employees rely on coffee or energy drinks multiple times a day to stay alert, risking physical and mental health.

Professional Integrity

• Decline in Work Quality: Working beyond capacity compromises focus and attention to detail, leading to errors and reduced work quality.
  For example: Sectors like finance and consulting report high error rates due to long hours and fatigue, impacting client satisfaction and company reputation.
• Ethical Shortcuts and Compromises: Excessive workload pressures may drive employees to take unethical shortcuts to meet deadlines.
  For example: In high-pressure environments, employees may overlook quality checks or under report risks to meet unrealistic targets, compromising ethical standards.
• Reduced Innovation and Creativity: Fatigue stifles creativity, limiting employees’ ability to think innovatively or contribute fresh ideas.
  For example: Industries like marketing and design, which rely on creativity, report lower creative output from employees facing excessive workloads.
• Loss of Accountability and Transparency: Excessive work often leads to cutting corners, creating a culture where transparency and accountability diminish.
  For example: Workplaces with intense time demands report more incidents of overlooked compliance and procedural lapses, impacting organisational integrity.

Ethical Responsibilities of Corporations Regarding Work-Life Balance

• Ensuring Fair Work Hours: Corporations have a duty to prevent excessive hours and set realistic expectations regarding work capacity.
  For example: Companies implementing strict no-overtime policies have reported better employee satisfaction and lower turnover rates.
• Providing Mental Health Support: Corporations should prioritise mental health through counselling and wellness programs, creating a supportive environment.
  For example: Some corporations offer free counselling services for employees, reducing stress-related leave and improving mental well-being.
• Transparent Workload Management: Ethical corporations distribute workloads fairly, preventing undue burden on certain employees or teams.
  For example: Regular reviews of team workloads help identify imbalances, ensuring equitable task distribution across employees.
• Encouraging Time-Off and Flexibility: Employers should support flexible schedules and encourage employees to take regular breaks and time off.
  For example: Flexible hours and mandatory time-off policies in companies like Microsoft India have shown positive impacts on productivity and employee morale.
• Adopting Inclusive Leadership Practices: Leaders must foster an inclusive culture that respects individual well-being and work-life needs, promoting sustainable practices.
  For example: Top companies conduct biannual surveys on work-life balance, holding leadership accountable for maintaining employee satisfaction.

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Addressing work-life balance issues is crucial to ensuring a healthy, ethical, and productive workforce in India. Corporations hold the ethical responsibility to protect employees from excessive working hours and support their personal well-being. By fostering an inclusive and balanced work culture, companies can not only enhance employee satisfaction but also contribute positively to their professional integrity and overall productivity.

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