Work stress among IT workers is overwhelming!!! Not withstanding the guarded comments by the IT leadership on this issue in the media, the stress is simply bursting seams. I quote: "Captains of IT industry are guarded in their response to anecdotal evidence of a spike in reported cases of depression among workers in the sector, as reported by ET last week." Without quoting anyone in particular, my informal interactions with IT workers, brings forth unimaginable work hours and pressure. There is no time to eat, no time to sleep and no time to exercise. The pressure of any escalation from the client keeps them on their toes 24/7, 365 days a year. No leaves, no breaks make it worse. In fact even if they take leaves, the work does not seem to leave them.
The 123 rule is clearly at work - Hire 1, Pay for 2 and Take work of 3! No wonder, IT companies are planning to hire less (do not think it is only recessionary trends)!
Audrey Tsui's research in Asian economies shows abnormal levels of work stress among Asian workers. He puts it perfectly as - 'Asian wellness in decline: a cost of rising prosperity '.
Is the cost too high? In fact, a news report in a reputed business daily has revealed that about 50% of patients at NIMHANS, Bangalore (a hospital for brain injury and mental illness) are IT workers.
This may not mean that all Indian IT workers are unhappy. Gallup's recent research shows that meaningful work and work environment can offset long working hours and can still lead to engagement. But meaningful work and reasonably length of work hours are key determinants. All IT work done in India may not necessarily mean meaningful work and long working hours cannot mean 18-19 hours of work everyday, no leaves, no holiday...its just way too much!
Profit maximization seems to have completely overshadowed people centrism.
3 comments:
Agree with you Sir.
May be thats why the count of IT companies in Best Places to work have also reduced..(http://www.glassdoor.com/blog/top-50-places-work-2013-employees-choice-award-winners/)
Only google in Top 10, Only Google in Top 20..and then Agilent Techlogies come in the 30th rank
Perhaps! Thanks for commenting.
Cheers,
Debashish
yes, its right sir...... IT workers are not even getting time to spend with their family except wishing like Hai !! Bye !! Even some are doing the work on weekends also but they dont give extra wage for extra work.
Some couples might doing day and night work that means husband and wife dint even met each other a day.....Also they are feeling very frustation of doing that much of work, mentally illness, feeling pressure but job is necessary for them to move their family forward. This culture should be change in India.
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