A white collar employee’s death should make companies think more about responsive workplaces Her mother’s detailed and poignant letter about Anna Sebastian Perayil’s life after her death, has touched a chord across the country’s white collar workers. Per the letter, an overwhelming workload and relentless managers pushed the young chartered accountant beyond her limits. Even as the letter has drawn many others to share their own experience of corporate bosses putting unreasonable pressure on employees, MoS labour and employment has indicated there will be a thorough investigation into its allegations. As of now we don’t know with certainty the cause and effect. But such conversations about work’s role in human diminishing/flourishing are critical for moving the needle towards better working conditions.
Burnout is a serious issue, impacting not only individual well-being but also organizational productivity and societal well-being. The concept of work-life balance is often presented as a binary choice: work or life. This simplistic view ignores the fluidity and interconnectedness of work and life. In reality, work and life are not separate entities but rather two sides of the same coin, constantly interacting and influencing each other.
Who is responsible for ensuring that employees are being treated fairly and respectfully? What are the concerns raised by employees about their working conditions? What are the employees’ expectations for change? What are the employers’ expectations for employees? What are the employers’ expectations for the future? This conversation about working conditions is a crucial step in building a positive and productive work environment.
Facebook Twitter Linkedin Email This piece appeared as an editorial opinion in the print edition of The Times of India.
