As Hyderabad thrives as a major IT hub, debates arise about the sustainability and impact of its work culture. Critics argue that the relentless pace and high expectations may overshadow local traditions and work-life balance. Is the city’s rapid growth fostering innovation, or are we losing sight of what truly matters?
Longer working hours might be tried as the last resort in dire situations when every other possibility has ceased to exist. But have we spared a thought for lorry drivers, shopkeepers, farmers and the like people who work long hours? Hardly, it seems.
Hyderabad is becoming an increasingly defiant city – refusing to accept any idea, thought, plan or proposal that aims to propel on a new path or passage. We have not been able to differentiate the ‘authoritative’ opinions of someone from directives of the ‘authorities’ that are almost mandatory for others.
In a way, we tend to overplay the ‘rights’ card so much that people who matter are frequently driven to defend themselves from incessant attacks and rebuttals for anything that they utter. Add to this the ‘ever-vigilant’ social media that looms large over everyone. This precarious position puts people on a sticky wicket where any petty ordinary citizen with little or no knowledge of the subject could effectively halt or jeopardise any new idea or attempt by anyone who tries it.
Let us not mistake the rights guaranteed by the Constitution for mindless criticism of everything that comes to our ‘knowledge’. No doubt, there must be sort of reasonable and responsible counters that are essentials of a vibrant democracy. But sadly, we tend to stretch this ‘facility’ a bit too far making a mockery of every development that takes place whether it is good or bad at large. Let us not be inimical to everyone and everything.
What needs to be discussed
Recent commentaries and postings on the sad and sudden demise of a young chartered accountant display a sense of anger and anguish from all over that is very much understandable. That a highly promising young career has been mercilessly snatched away is a matter of grave concern. It is as big a loss to society as it is to her parents. We must try to devise ways and means to save such precious lives being lost on account of despair and depression.
We have the most pertinent question here – who led to the drastic end of the young chartered accountant? Whatever the reason, self-killing (suicide) is not at all acceptable and let us not encourage forces that glorify suicides for narrow gains.
People are blaming it on the working hours, on the work pressure, on the work culture, on the employers burdening the workers with unattainable goals and impossible targets. Consequently, it keeps the worker constantly under mental trauma that only gets aggravated with every passing day.
Extended working hours and excruciating work style make things untenable and unbearable. It is extremely disturbing to note that there are still some people in the helm of affairs who believe in longer working hours for larger results. It has not been proved anywhere that a longer duration at work means enhanced productivity.
It is all the more irrelevant in areas of work that demands more mind than labour. We do not subscribe to the view of one being superior to the other. Physical labour is as good and as noble as the mind work. Any discrimination that places one above the other is but a crime against the mankind and is never justifiable.
The longer working hours
It would be perfectly in order of things if an organisation tries to increase the productivity of its employees through legal and acceptable means.
Innovative ideas, application of latest technologies, training the staff for more effective use of the resources on hand, adapting to needs of the circumstances, prioritising different phases of work etc. are some of the methods that would help in raising the level of productivity.
Longer working hours might be tried as the last resort in dire situations when every other possibility has ceased to exist. This may be the ‘easiest route’ to maximising the profits in some cases, particularly in trades that are primarily ‘human centric’ where it is quantity rather than quality that matters most.
It may be argued by some that when ‘more pay for more work’ principle is followed, when it is only optional and not mandatory for anyone to work for longer hours, why should it not be allowed?
Many youngsters, in fact, prefer this arrangement because that would help generate more revenue needed for certain urgent needs. Why should anyone block or deny somebody’s opportunity to work and earn more – in a legitimate way?
Similarly, any talk of 12-14 hours of work a day need not necessarily mean exploitation of labour as it could be a boon to many who prefer longer week ends. Those who stay away from home and who spend more money than they can reasonably afford to for staying at workplace may be hugely benefitted by working extra hours to have an extra day off. So long as it remains a choice of the individuals to work beyond the legally permissible eight hours a day, there should not be much opposition to this arrangement.
Beyond the choices
But again, violation or alteration of stipulated rules for a few individuals has the inherent danger of slowly gaining the status of accepted norms over a period of time. So, there is a valid reason to look beyond the ‘choice of individuals’ that would creep into the system and the society as a regular feature making the ‘choice’ impertinent.
Will it be fine to work for 70 hours a week? This idea is being vehemently and forcefully opposed by many, may be because it was proposed by an ‘entrepreneur’ and not by employees. We have not been able to get out of the cinematic notion of a bad, ruthless ‘Master’ who would not say or do anything good for others. An idea is mooted by a man of repute; he believes it would be good to the industry and to the youth.
He might be wrong. His idea might be mistaken. Yet, we must acknowledge the fact that he did not mean to undermine the rights of the workers in any manner.
It was just not his intention. The idea was not so bad as to dismiss it outright. But the critics of the idea do not seem to be ready to even discuss it. They are at the same time too happy to blame him and his idea for all the wrongs that are happening around us.
Questions to be answered
Have we ever bothered to think of the plight of the lorry drivers who are on the roads all through the day and night for weeks together? Have we ever been so kind to feel the pain of small shopkeepers who keep their shops open from early morning till almost midnight to earn a paltry sum for their livelihood?
Have we ever been considerate to thousands of street vendors who toil so much in hot sun and in heavy rains all through their life? Have we ever taken care to mitigate the sufferings of millions of farm labourers, cart-pullers, daily wagers, people at the lowest strata of the society, who are ready to stay hooked unmindful of ‘working hours’, ‘toxic work culture’, ‘work ethics’ and ‘work environment’?
The so-called ‘leaders’ fighting for the rights of the workers are nowhere to be seen in the non-formal sector because they do not have much to ‘harvest’ there. We do not blame them; it is not in their scheme of things. That is all.
As regards the work pressure in IT sector, there certainly is a need for regulating the work hours and to provide a feel of secured life leading to a happy atmosphere at home and in office. It is the duty of all of us to ensure a smooth, cordial relations between the organisational heads and the employees working there who play a pivotal role in shaping a solid, strong economy of the country.
Social media postings – the outpourings of many young aspirants and employees – would not serve any purpose unless it all leads to a possible ‘re-look’ by the authorities concerned. When it so happens, we could say, we have a voice too! #hydkhabar
About The Author
We are safe! No shift extensions and no work from home too.