👌👌👌A mismatch of expectations and reality – Opinion News | The Financial Express

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As India’s younger workforce strives to meet its economic aspirations, it’s crucial that we don’t sacrifice their health and happiness in the process.

In India, the stakes are high. With nearly 65% of the population aged under 35 years, the younger workforce is expected to shoulder the economic ambitions of an emerging superpower.

By Srinath Sridharan,

The recent death of a 26-year-old EY employee in Pune, allegedly due to work-related stress, has cast a harsh light on the pressures faced by India’s young workforce. The incident is sad, and should draw our attention to stress and poor work culture. Her mother calling out the company’s work culture raises questions about how corporate environments may be failing the very people they rely on.

Gen Z being incapable of handling work pressure is a common refrain, but it does disservice to the larger theme which is a broader, more complex reality. Every generation has faced burnout. Baby Boomers dealt with high blood pressure and heart disease in their prime working years. Gen X was no stranger to burnout, as long hours and “overachievement” became badges of honour. What is different today is the transparency with which young workers, especially Gen Z, confront these issues, often amplified by social media. Especially after the pandemic, we see more open conversations, and even media coverage of topics such as mental health, stress, and emotional burnout.

In India, the stakes are high. With nearly 65% of the population aged under 35 years, the younger workforce is expected to shoulder the economic ambitions of an emerging superpower. This puts immense pressure on them to achieve success quickly. This is compounded by the modern corporate environment, where multinationals, their Indian counterparts, and even start-ups demand high performance, long hours, and constant availability.

India’s corporate culture is notorious for blurring boundaries between work and personal life. While many global and leading Indian companies have instituted mental health initiatives and flexible work policies, these often remain symbolic.

In our society, success is often celebrated as the ultimate marker of worth, defined by visible milestones — wealth, status, rapid career growth, and material accomplishments. This narrow definition pushes individuals to chase external validation, often at the cost of their well-being. It cascades across communities, companies, and even countries, creating a collective culture where relentless hard work is glorified, and burnout is normalised. Societal pressure influences corporate structures, where high-stress environments are deemed necessary to “win”, and it shapes national identities where economic growth often takes precedence over happiness or health of the workforce.

Countries like Japan, China, and South Korea have long been known for their gruelling work cultures. In Japan, the concept of “karoshi”, or death from overwork, is a stark reflection of this reality, leading to government interventions and corporate attempts to limit working hours, albeit with mixed success. Similarly, China’s 996 culture — working 9 am to 9 pm, six days a week — has faced pushback from younger workers, but remains powerful. South Korea has also attempted to curb work hours, but the culture remains deeply entrenched. In India, we take similar pride in long hours and relentless hard work, often equating it with dedication and productivity.

For Gen Z, the situation is particularly challenging. They crave meaning and purpose in their work, but are more likely to push back against toxic cultures. Unlike previous generations, today’s young professionals are more willing to say no. They are not as afraid of losing jobs because they believe they have options.

Yet, placing the blame solely on businesses is an oversimplification. The individual plays a role as well. The drive to excel, rise quickly, and to accumulate wealth is often self-imposed. Many enter the workforce with unrealistic expectations, fuelled by social media’s glorification of the “hustle culture”. The pressure to “make it” fast can become overwhelming.

At the same time, from a young age, students are taught to prioritise academic success above all else, with little emphasis on emotional intelligence or stress management. This hyper-competitive environment doesn’t permit failure, which means many enter the corporate world without having developed the resilience needed to handle pressure. This is not an issue of generational weakness but a mismatch between expectations and reality, a trap that we as a society have helped shape.

For businesses, the solution lies in empathy and adaptability. The old command-and-control style of management, which emphasises hierarchy and obedience, is increasingly at odds with what young workers need. Today’s employees thrive under leadership that emphasises influence, impact, and collaboration. Companies must realise that each employee is unique. While some may thrive in high-pressure environments, others may struggle.

We also cannot overlook the reality that stress is universal, transcending age, gender, and even the form of employment. The informal sector, which makes up nearly 90% of India’s labour pool, faces immense stress, albeit of a different nature. For these workers, the pressure is not about meeting deadlines or performance targets alone, but about sheer survival.

Stress is not going away, but our response to it must evolve. As India’s younger workforce strives to meet its economic aspirations, it’s crucial that we don’t sacrifice their health and happiness in the process. For all workers, the ability to cope with stress is shaped by a variety of factors, including upbringing, personal resilience, and individual goals. There is no one-size-fits-all solution.

Srinath Sridharan is a Policy researcher & corporate advisor.

(The author is a Political Analyst and ex-national Head, Strategy and Research, I-PAC. Views expressed are the author’s own and not necessarily those of financialexpress.com.)