There’s a thin line between the daily grind and the daily grime. Unfortunately, the work culture at Indian companies and MNCs in India appears to be veering towards the latter, deteriorating with each passing day. We have all heard tales about Byju’s toxic work culture, which is merely a drop in the ocean. 

So, what’s really polluting our workplaces? 

Last year, a viral video featured a Byju’s employee voicing her frustrations over abusive practices, lack of support, and inadequate incentives, which sparked significant social media backlash for what was once India’s most valuable company and first-ever startup unicorn.

Beyond Byju’s, employees of many Indian companies have been calling out unhealthy work environments. 

A Bangalore-based techie shared how his Apple Watch helped him identify health issues stemming from the pressures of working at a startup. Upon noticing the alarming health metrics, he decided to leave the job for a healthier workplace, emphasising the negative impact that such environments can have on the physical and mental well-being of employees. 

Another example is that of an employee boldly calling out her boss’ toxic traits – unrealistic goals, excessive workload, and passive-aggressive behaviour – in a passionate email that has since gone viral on Reddit. 

The email, with the subject line, “Daily target not achieved – as was busy writing the goodbye mail”, began with a greeting to the superiors. “Hope you both are well and good,” before quickly taking a different tone, “Unfortunately, we didn’t meet today as you are not here – strange, but I DID guess and expected this” (sic).

just another day at office. Toxic culture at its peak
byu/me_109 indevelopersIndia

Seeking Work-Life Balance

Poor leadership, lack of clear communication, micro-management, excessive stress, favouritism, inadequate recognition, unrealistic expectations, and unhealthy competition among employees – can all contribute to making a workplace unhealthy.

A 2023 Harappa Insights survey found that 58% of the respondents left their jobs due to toxic bosses who fostered unhealthy competition and neglected employee well-being, while 54% cited toxic workplaces marked by office politics and unethical management.

A general grouse centres around leaders not respecting their employees’ work-life balance. Many claim that a lot of Indian managers expect their team members to be available late at night and on weekends, with little respect for their personal life.

“You are questioned on why you didn’t pick the call when they called you on a Saturday or Sunday,” said a Reddit user. 

While some stereotypes suggest Western managers prioritise work-life balance and Indian workplaces emphasise relentless productivity, these generalisations overlook the cultural diversity and India’s growing awareness of the need for better managers to support work-life balance.

Indian CEOs Don’t Get it?

In 2023, influential leader and Indian billionaire NR Narayana Murthy further fueled this narrative by advocating for a rigorous workweek, which sounded unbelievable to many. Murthy urged India’s youth to “work for 70 hours a week”, claiming it was for nation-building. This statement triggered many people.

A few corporate chiefs were quick to echo Murthy’s sentiment. Bhavish Aggarwal, who agreed with the Infosys founder, made a statement which seemed to back Murthy’s opinion. https://x.com/bhash/status/1717517238650188068

This perspective reflects a broader trend among senior executives who seem disconnected from modern concepts of work-life balance and mental health. 

Other CEOs like Cred’s Kunal Shah and CEO and Co-Founder at Bombay Shaving Company .  Shantanu Deshpande has also downplayed the importance of work-life balance.

While this highlights a growing concern regarding the toxicity at Indian workplaces, netizens were quick to react.

Hustle Culture Leading to Mental Health Issues 

Another significant factor contributing to this toxicity is the widespread adoption of the “hustle culture”, where employees are expected to be perpetually available, often working late into the night and on weekends. 

Furthermore, the rapid growth of startups in India has intensified this issue. Many startups, driven by the pressure to scale quickly and meet aggressive targets, often impose unrealistic timelines on their employees. 

A recent APA survey found that employees who reported a toxic workplace were more than three times as likely to have experienced harm to their mental health compared to those in healthy work environments (52% vs. 15%).

Mental health should be a top priority for both employees and employers. Stressful working environments are detrimental to everyone’s psychological well-being and can lead to burnout, depression, and even physical illnesses. 

Recognising the signs of a toxic environment and taking steps to either address them or quit in time is crucial to safeguard one’s mental health.

Employers must promote a psychologically safe workplace by fostering an inclusive culture, clear communication, and growth opportunities. Prioritising mental health benefits both employees and the organisation.

It’s also no secret that when employees are happy and well-supported, they bring their best to work, boosting productivity both in their tasks and for the company overall. For example, at Microsoft, the employees share their mental health stories – something that happened organically, rather than through a program. 

Other companies, also operating in India, such as Amazon, ABB and Infosys, have mental health initiatives for their employees.

Gen Zs Don’t Stay in Toxic Environments

The good part is that Gen Z is aware and vocal about mental health. According to a report, nearly half of Gen Z respondents cite toxic work culture and excessive pressure as key factors driving quiet quitting. 

In fact, over 48% of Gen Z, born between the mid-to-late 1990s and early 2010s, identify toxic work culture as the primary cause. 

According to another study by global healthy eating app Lifesum, nearly half of Gen Z and millennials (48%) indicated they would quit their jobs tomorrow for one that better supported their well-being.

Additionally, more than two-thirds of Gen Z and millennials (69%) believe they would be more productive at work if their employer enhanced their health and well-being.

Be it GenZ or Millennials, everybody is battling stress, albeit due to varying causes. With more Gen Z coming into the workforce, it becomes critical for Indian companies to address these problems, pivot and ensure a better working environment for all.

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