NOMADIC INSIGHTS

Column | Young CA's demise a reminder of India's toxic corporate work culture

Even months after the sad loss of Kochi-native Anna Sebastian Perayil, a 26-year-old chartered accountant at EY (Ernst & Young) in Pune, discussions about India’s toxic corporate work culture continue to resonate deeply. Anna's tragic passing, reportedly linked to the immense pressures of her job, raises questions about the work culture in the entire Indian corporate landscape.

EY was Anna’s first job, and as her mother mentioned in a heartfelt letter to the company chairman, “she was thrilled to be part of such a prestigious company”. Yet, the letter notes that “years of my child's hard work have been snuffed out by just four months of EY’s callous attitude”.

Her story has ignited a wave of fear and unease among many in India’s Knowledge and IT hubs. Our friends in corporate firms have expressed feelings of anxiety, citing concerns about extended work hours, sleepless nights, and a lack of time for physical activity.

Although Indian labour law stipulates a maximum of 48 hours of work per week under normal circumstances – similar to regulations in countries like the UK – the prevailing culture and practices in many sectors often disregard this rule. The Kerala chief minister called for stricter compliance with labour laws in response to the incident.

Anna's untimely death stirred a whirlwind of emotions within me, rekindling memories of when I, too, began my professional life in Pune, also starting out from Kochi.

‘Work is Worship’
Two decades ago, I embarked on a journey from Ernakulam railway station to Pune aboard the Poorna Express, setting off for my first paid assignment with UNICEF. My heart brimmed with excitement and joy at the prospect of working for a prestigious organisation, imagining a rewarding salaried life in one of India’s most vibrant cities.

Upon reaching Madgaon station along the scenic Konkan Railway, the train began its ascent into the rugged Braganza Ghats, passing through tunnels carved into the hills during British rule. What caught my eye was the phrase inscribed at the entrance of certain tunnels—'Work is Worship'—paying tribute to the painstaking manual labour of an era when machinery was less advanced and engineering technologies were limited.

The inscription romanticising workmanship not only honours the value of human labour, which thrilled me, but also reminds us of the exploitation endured by Indian labourers under their colonial masters.

I was fortunate enough to begin my professional life with the United Nations. This employer par excellence brings out the best in individuals while allowing them to create cherished memories of the city in which they served.

While travelling to Pune for her debut job, Anna embodied the spirit of hard work and determination, always seeking to grow and make her mark in the company. However, many multinational corporations in globalised India, like EY, operate more like modern-day sweatshops, with a workplace ethos reminiscent of colonial labour practices that can even be lethal.

Modern work grind
The EY incident is just the tip of the iceberg; stories of toxicity in the work atmosphere started popping up from India's top corporate firms. A lot has been revealed through print and social media regarding the normalisation of unpaid overtime, lack of weekend breaks, and unrealistic deadlines in large multinational corporations. Sharing their experiences, many employees highlight how unfair workplace practices have become normalised and are often accepted as part of Indian corporate culture.

The shift in working arrangements after COVID, especially the rise in popularity of the "work from home" (WFH) option, has been identified as contributing to a toxic work culture. Initially, WFH was devised as an alternative arrangement to keep the industry moving during the lockdown days. However, in the post-COVID phase, companies began utilising the option as a convenient way to increase working hours, which has significantly impacted employees' work-life balance.

Many companies have significantly increased the workload assigned to employees within the same timeframe, substantially boosting their profit margins. For many IT professionals, WFH often leads to extended hours and the pressure of managing multiple deadlines, offering minimal benefits. Only a few companies operating in India continue to promote balanced work environments.

“The Indian market is extremely competitive, leaving freshers and early-career professionals with no choice but to exhaust themselves just to survive and advance. Unlike our generation, which had the first-mover advantage, newcomers are forced to constantly scramble and upgrade their skills to meet ever-changing market demands and client expectations," says a consulting professional with substantial managerial experience in top corporate firms.

He identifies that part of the problem could be addressed by transforming our higher education system from traditional methods to one that emphasises practical skills. Even those with prestigious degrees, including CAs with strong track records, must significantly upskill during the early stages of their careers to thrive in the corporate rat race.

Right to disconnect
India, one of the world’s leading economies, is subjecting many of its skilled professionals to difficult working conditions at a time when advanced nations are focusing on improving work-life balance. This contrast is worth noting. “I did not make any monetary gain moving to Norway compared to working in the same MNC in India, but I have time for my family and myself, and to explore the world around me,” notes a middle-aged senior IT professional from Hyderabad who moved to Europe.

Many modern jobs that require employees to interact with computers for hours on end to complete unending tasks take a toll on both body and mind. While some stress is not inherently bad, chronic stress is clearly identified as the leading cause of "job burnout"—a state of physical, mental, and emotional exhaustion. In a 2023 survey conducted by the McKinsey Health Institute across 30 countries, 59% of surveyed employees in India reported symptoms of burnout, which is almost three times higher than the global average. In light of the WHO's inclusion of burnout as an occupational phenomenon in the 11th Revision of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11), many countries are implementing new policies to help minimise its impact.

A significant initiative addressing job burnout is the "right to disconnect," which allows employees to avoid unreasonable work-related communications outside their working hours. For instance, under new legislation in Australia on August 26, 2024, employers are expected to refrain from contacting employees about work matters after their designated hours.

Though India’s growing economy may not be ready for drastic moves like the ‘right to disconnect,’ the death of Anna Sebastian Perayil highlights that it’s high time for the government to step up and tackle the toxic work culture head-on. As her mother wrote in a letter to the EY chairman, her story can make a difference even though Anna is no longer with us.

(Social anthropologist and novelist Thomas Sajan and US-trained neurologist Titto Idicula, based in Norway, write on politics, culture, economy, and medicine.)