The Economic Survey for 2024-25, presented on Friday, weighs in on the ongoing debate about the 70-90-hour work week, asserting that spending over 60 hours a week working can negatively impact health. The survey referenced studies showing that long hours spent at a desk harm mental well-being.
According to these findings, individuals working 12 or more hours per day at a desk experience significantly lower mental well-being, with a score about 100 points lower than those working fewer than two hours at a desk.
One of the studies, conducted by Sapien Labs Centre for Human Brain and Mind, highlighted that extended hours at the desk have detrimental effects on mental health, with workers spending 12 or more hours showing signs of distress or struggling well-being. The study further found that making better lifestyle choices, fostering positive workplace cultures, and maintaining healthy family relationships can lead to fewer days lost from work—up to 2-3 fewer days per month.
Conversely, poor relationships with managers, lack of pride or purpose at work, and poor workplace culture were linked to significant increases in the number of days employees are unable to work. The report also noted that productivity is affected by several factors, not just workplace culture. Even in environments with good managerial relationships, about five days are still lost each month due to other influences on mental well-being.
A WHO study cited by the Survey revealed that depression and anxiety lead to the loss of about 12 billion workdays globally, resulting in a financial loss of USD 1 trillion annually. This translates to approximately Rs 7,000 per day in India.
The Economic Survey’s stance on work hours follows a recent debate sparked by S N Subrahmanyan, Chairman and Managing Director of Larsen & Toubro Ltd, who suggested a 90-hour work week, including Sundays, despite a backlash from business leaders. The comments echoed advice from Infosys co-founder Narayana Murthy about a 70-hour work week and Gautam Adani’s controversial remark about relationships being affected by excessive time at home.
In response, several business leaders, including RPG Group Chairman Harsh Goenka, and Mahindra Group Chairman Anand Mahindra, criticized the idea, advocating for quality of work and productivity over long hours. ITC Chairman Sanjiv Puri also emphasized that fostering employee growth and fulfillment is more important than simply focusing on work hours.
The Survey also drew attention to the global work culture debate, pointing to China's "996 culture" (9 am to 9 pm, six days a week), which is similarly under scrutiny.
It concluded that to achieve India’s economic goals, greater attention should be given to healthier lifestyle choices, especially those developed in youth, as well as addressing hostile work cultures and excessive working hours, which can ultimately hinder economic growth.
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