A young CA professional who passed away due to work-related stress is a tragic reminder of the high pressure and demands many young professionals face. In fact, a recent report by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) revealed that over 9.5% of all suicides in India were by salaried professionals. It’s a concerning issue that needs immediate attention.
The rising tide of deaths linked to professional stress calls for urgent intervention from employers, policymakers, and fellow human beings. This crisis cannot be attributed to a single cause, as it stems from a culture of unsustainable pressure. We will discuss significant reasons for and remedies for this untenable pressure.
Competition in today’s corporate world has become stifling, with firms trying to extract as much output as possible from a reduced workforce. This has created a harmful environment that strips the workplace of its humanity, turning it into a battlefield where individuals aren’t merely competing for promotions or pay raises but fighting for their emotional well-being. The competition is tough, and young professionals are often unprepared for the stress of corporate life. Schools and universities focus on technical skills but neglect emotional intelligence, resilience, and stress management.
Companies hiring fresh graduates often push them to their limits without providing necessary support, leaving many feeling lost and overwhelmed.
Another reason for this burnout is Isolation. The pressure to succeed in obtaining professional qualifications, such as the CA or any other professional course in India, often leads students to isolate themselves from the college experience. Focusing solely on their studies, they miss out on college life’s social and emotional growth. This Isolation can leave them ill-prepared for the high-pressure corporate world, lacking the necessary social and emotional skills. Young professionals migrating to big cities like Mumbai, Bengaluru, or Delhi may also feel isolated due to the fast-paced, expensive, and less connected environment, increasing their vulnerability to stress and burnout.
In the past, hobbies were essential for relaxation and emotional release, but today’s young professionals have less time for these activities. The absence of younger participants at numismatic shows and other events highlights a more significant problem of diminishing stress-relieving hobbies for young professionals.
Organisations often promote managers based on the achievement of final results or technical skills rather than leadership and emotional intelligence. This can lead to managers lacking the tools to support their teams emotionally, causing stress and detachment. Emotional intelligence is crucial for creating a healthy work environment by understanding and responding to others’ emotions. The satisfaction of young professionals at work is greatly influenced by how they are treated by their seniors and the dynamics of their team. High-pressure environments and poor workplace design can contribute to stress and Isolation. A well-functioning team can provide support and help prevent burnout. Recognition is a core human need; young professionals need acknowledgement to avoid burnout. Recognition doesn’t have to be monetary; a simple thank-you note or public acknowledgement can go a long way.
The stigma around mental health in corporate culture prevents many employees from seeking help. This requires organizations to create an environment where open conversations about mental health are encouraged. Additionally, the “always-on” culture, driven by technological advancements, blurs the line between professional and personal time, leading to heightened stress levels among employees, particularly young professionals.
What is the way forward after understanding the significant reasons and few remedies for this burnout? Reorienting the focus from quantity of work to quality of life is a pragmatic yet effective way to address this escalating challenge. We must get over associating long hours with dedication and achievement. Rather than rewarding workers for working overtime or weekends or giving up personal time, companies must emphasise and celebrate efficiency and balance.
Leading by example, managers can encourage their staff to prioritise well-being, take breaks, and respect boundaries as essential determinants of workplace culture. Corporate policies should further the work-life balance by making paid mental health days and proactively working to destigmatise the use of such benefits. HR departments should be redesigned with a focus on employee welfare, not just company optics, and managers should be trained in emotional intelligence to support the emotional needs of their team.
Should the government step in? Yes — especially when workplace culture starts to compromise citizens’ well-being. There needs to be broader societal and policy changes. Governments need to aggressively support work-life balance as part of a public health agenda, recognizing that excessively long work hours’ drive mental health crises and lower productivity in general over the long run.
Examples of policy intervention in this area could include weighted incentives for corporations and individuals to create wellness programs. Specific examples of wellness programs could include – Mental health support, Gym and Sports Memberships, Flexibility in work time, and Employee assistance programs that would help improve workplace health. Adopting a conventional 40-hour workweek is one tried-and-true method for enhancing productivity and well-being at work. This concept has been effectively implemented in nations like Sweden, which has raised productivity and improved employee happiness. Studies reveal that a reduced workweek promotes a better work-life equilibrium, lowers stress levels, and boosts mental well-being, contributing to increased productivity over the long run.
Germany’s experimental 4-day workweek scheme is a more recent example. Sweden and Germany both emphasise the advantages of working smarter, not harder, and they are pushing for a change in workplace culture worldwide so that corporate results and employee well-being are given equal weight. These models can inspire both firms and governments seeking to create more sustainable work environments that put their employees’ long-term health and productivity first.
Nations like France and Germany have implemented “Right to Disconnect” laws to protect workers’ well-being and ensure a healthy work-life balance. These laws grant employees the right to refuse work-related communications after work hours, setting a positive standard for other countries and businesses to follow. These tragic deaths should never be reduced to a statistic. These are unmistakable indicators of a systemic breakdown that requires quick repair.
Every life lost to stress at work is a stark reminder that corporate culture prioritizes money over people, efficiency over compassion, and productivity over well-being. We need a collaborative effort to reinvent business environments where balance determines success rather than burnout. Legislators and governments must acknowledge this as a public health concern and advance mental health and work-life balance in legislation and policy. Before more lives are lost, the moment for change is now.
Author is Professor at XLRI and BJP Leader