A recent statement by Infosys founder Narayan Murthy has ignited a vigorous debate among netizens. Murthy urged young individuals to dedicate 70 hours a week to nation-building, underscoring a notable contrast in expectations between India's youthful workforce and corporate leaders. While some business figures endorsed his viewpoint, it triggered criticism on social media platforms, highlighting concerns about low compensation and the absence of work-life balance.
Mr. Murthy highlighted that India's work productivity ranks among the lowest globally. He emphasized the necessity for India to enhance its work productivity and placed the responsibility for the nation's advancement on the shoulders of its youth. Therefore, I request that our youngsters must say, this is my country; Id like to work 70 hours a week, he stated.
What law states?
Maximum no of working hours is 9 hours a day and 48 hours a week. There is no difference between managerial and non-managerial worker when it comes to regulations relating to working hours. The working hours may be increased up to 54 hours a week upon prior notice to the inspector, but this increase would be subject to a condition that overtime hours should not be more than 150 in one year.
Criticism
Due to longer working hours, any organizations will make wealth. The economy will flourish but what about the mental health of the employees? An employee will work for fourteen hours a day and toil hard in the traffic of he cities for two hours of commuting. That will leave him eight hours in a day. Doctors recommend eight hours of sleep and where is the time for self and family? Just imagine the stress and issues that will crop up?
Fourteen hours of work does not mean more productivity. Companies should first understand that their lopsided policies are the reason for low productivity. Indian companies are seeing employees as cheap labor and a way to exploit. Employees will never earn own the company and that is leading to productivity issues. Murthy and industry bosses should amend those polies first. Longer work hours do not mean more productivity.
It is not that people do not wish to put everything or as business jargon puts it, 110% into their work. If inspired and if they feel that they have an emotional stake in the organization, employees do go above and beyond in their work, but for this to happen, it is necessary that the organization create an atmosphere that creates a shared sens of ownership. Companies cannot demand this of their employees; the responsibility is theirs to create such a culture.
However, when an employee fails to pristine his work or mismanages his time, the resultant effect is that you have to stay back or come over on weekend/holidays to complete your task.
Beyond some popular valid reasons for extended work hour, most reasons are due to the following;
- Poor time management
- Lack of delegation
- Poor knowledge of the job and skill required to deliver
Another silent, yet influential reason is if the organizational reward system is not seen to be objective, most employees will resort to cheap and fraudulent ways of attracting management attention to their hard work as a way of being appraised for performance.
Inefficiency or Productivity?
In nutshell, every employee should aim at Work Smart, Not Hard!, be committed to your job If they come work in time, finishes their job on or before deadline and their quality of work is up to or above standard, why should they be expected to spend a second longer beyond the official working hours and incur unreasonable overtime to the organization.?
Working late is often a sign of inefficiency. This inefficiency could be a system issue or people issue. No, working longer hours does not necessarily lead to more productivity. In fact, studies have shown that productivity actually starts to decline after about 50 hours per week. This is because people start to make more mistakes, have more difficulty concentrating, and is more likely to experience burnout.
There are a number of reasons why working longer hours can lead to lower productivity. First, people need time to rest and recharge. When people are tired, they are less likely to be able to focus and make good decisions. Second, working long hours can lead to burnout. Burnout is a state of physical, emotional, and mental exhaustion that can lead to a decrease in productivity, motivation, and job satisfaction.
There are a number of things that employers can do to help their employees be more productive. One is to create a healthy work-life balance. This means allowing employees to take breaks, have vacation time, and not work too many hours. Another is to provide employees with the resources they need to do their jobs effectively. This includes things like training, equipment, and support from colleagues.
Employees can also take steps to improve their own productivity. One is to set realistic goals and deadlines. Another is to break down large tasks into smaller, more manageable ones. Employees should also take breaks throughout the day to avoid burnout.
Conclusion
In conclusion, working longer hours does not necessarily lead to more productivity. In fact, it can actually lead to lower productivity. There are a number of things that employers and employees can do to improve productivity, such as creating a healthy work-life balance, providing employees with the resources they need, and setting realistic goals.
Work - Life
Work is an integral part of every adults life, and we spend most of our day in the office or our workspace at home. However, with companies and businesses constantly changing and the competition increasing, it is becoming harder for people to disconnect from work. Even if one is told to go on a break, people will find it hard to relax and actually enjoy their break because they feel like they are letting people down at work.
If you feel like you cant relax and disconnect from work, here are three reasons why you should consider it:
1. It Improves Overall Health
If a person constantly works without any pause and stresses out even when they are supposed to take a break, it can have serious health risks. An overworked person will find it hard to recover and feel fatigued all the time. They can also have a higher risk of developing cardiovascular, gastrointestinal and musculoskeletal complications because they spend a long time seated and skip their breaks in favors of completing their work. These complications can lead to burnout and even death if nothing is done.
By disconnecting from work during breaks or after working hours, you will give your body enough time to recover and give it all the nutrients it needs to face another work day.
2. It Improves Workplace Performance
Workplace performance will also take a hit when a person cannot disconnect properly from work every day. Your focus is divided since your mind is always on overdrive, and you stress yourself out because of the work you still have to do. This will affect your capacity to finish your work on time, and the quality may even drop since you will rush your work to do more tasks.
As mentioned above, taking a break or disconnecting from work after work hours will give your mind and body time to recuperate and think about the tasks you need to do. It will also help you improve the quality of your work.
3. It Helps You Achieve A Work-Life Balance
It will be much easier for you to achieve a work-life balance if you can disconnect from work properly. You will have more time with your family and the things you love to do since you can focus on it more rather than constantly thinking about work all the time. If you cannot disconnect from work, not only are you losing this time with your family, but you will also lose your ability to enjoy what life offers.
Whether you are a new employee or a senior, you must not let your work control your life and be the only thing you think about. There is more to life than work; too much of something can be bad for you. So, if you feel like work is getting too much, take a break and find ways to disconnect. When you return to work, you will thank yourself for it and be ready to take on the tasks you have for the day.
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