Opnion: How Corporate Sick Work Culture Has Become a Health Drawback

In today’s competitive corporate landscape, the relentless pursuit of success often comes at a severe cost to employees' mental and physical well-being. Long working hours, tight deadlines, and overwhelming pressure have become commonplace, leading to a toxic work culture that glorifies burnout. While companies may pride themselves on their productivity, the detrimental effects of such environments on employees' health cannot be ignored.

A tragic example of this is the recent case of Anna Sebastian Perayil, a 26-year-old Chartered Accountant who allegedly died by suicide due to overwhelming work pressure at Ernst & Young (EY). Anna had recently cleared her CA exams and was working at EY’s Pune office for four months before passing away on July 21. Her mother, in a letter to EY India chairman Rajiv Memani, accused the firm of "glorifying" overwork, while her father claimed that late-night work left Anna extremely stressed. Despite raising concerns with company officials, no action was reportedly taken.

This incident is not an isolated one. Across various sectors, employees are increasingly feeling the toll of a toxic work culture that prioritizes results over employee health. The glorification of overwork—where employees are celebrated for pulling late hours, skipping breaks, and sacrificing personal time—has become the norm in many organizations.

Such work environments lead to a rise in mental health issues like anxiety, depression, and burnout. The lack of work-life balance not only affects employees' personal lives but also reduces productivity in the long term. Studies show that employees in such high-pressure environments are more likely to experience physical health issues, such as sleep disorders, cardiovascular problems, and weakened immune systems.

To combat this, it is crucial for organizations to foster a healthy work environment where employee well-being is prioritized. Work-life balance, reasonable deadlines, mental health support, and regular breaks should be normalized to create a sustainable work culture.