Beyond the 9 to 5: India's progressive stance on embracing work-life balance

New Delhi,UPDATED: Jan 28, 2024 11:26 IST

A thought-provoking debate has emerged regarding the future of work in India and its impact on India's growth and development. The conversation centers around the idea of dedicating an extensive 70 hours per week to work, which equates to around 14 hours a day within a typical 5-day work week.

The intention behind this proposal is to emphasise the need for greater efforts to foster the nation's development, drawing parallels with other nations that thrived post-World War II by having their citizens work diligently and extensively to rebuild their economies.

Sashi Kumar, Head of Sales, Indeed India, has shared how India's future work culture emphasises a shift towards valuing flexibility, quality, and well-being over extended work hours.

QUALITY AND WELL-BEING OVER QUANTITY

Additionally, concerns have been raised about India's worker productivity ranking amongst the lowest globally.

While this debate has ignited dialogue about the commitment to work, it's crucial to approach the matter from a perspective that prioritises both the well-being of the workforce and India's economic growth.

Indeed, we believe that the future of work lies in fostering an environment that values flexibility and quality over the mere number of hours spent on the job.

ADAPTING TO MODERN WORK LANDSCAPE

The global landscape of work is undergoing significant transformation, driven by factors such as technological advancements such as generative AI and the changing expectations of the modern workforce.

A growing proportion of the young workforce today believe that going above and beyond work may not always be in their best interest. These shifts in perspective have resulted in the exploration of alternative work trends that prioritise work-life balance, flexibility, and moving beyond the conventional 9-5 workday.

INSIGHTS FROM JOB SEEKERS

A recent survey revealed that a significant 71 per cent of Indian jobseekers prioritise flexibility over high salaries when considering job offers.

They value the freedom to set their own work hours, work from home, and take breaks as needed. Multiple studies have demonstrated that flexible work hours lead to increased productivity, highlighting the need to focus on what can be achieved rather than simply the number of hours worked.

A SHIFT TOWARDS QUALITY-DRIVEN ECONOMY

Embracing innovation and technology, such as artificial intelligence, is critical in advancing the job market toward a quality-driven economy. The pursuit of quantity, which has historically been a norm in India's workforce, is giving way to a more refined and skill-oriented approach.

As routine tasks become automated, jobseekers must continually upskill to engage in higher-order work. Employers, too, must provide the necessary training and capabilities that allow employees to deliver quality work while maintaining their work-life balance.

GENERATION Z AND APLHA IMPACT

As we look ahead to the future, we anticipate a dynamic job market with the emergence of Generation Z and Generation Alpha. According to a report, only 24 per cent of employees in Indian organisations experience high levels of wellbeing at their workplaces.

More than three-quarters of all the workers in Indian businesses reported low levels of wellbeing. However, low workplace wellbeing is not unique to India. This is a global problem with survey results indicating that Indian organisations are almost on par with the global average of thriving employees - 25 per cent.

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In conclusion, the evolving job market offers a unique opportunity to transform our approach to work, prioritising quality, flexibility, and well-being. By embracing these principles, we can drive India's economy forward and foster innovation in the ever-changing world of work.

Wellbeing at work is an integral part of our daily lives, whether we're working remotely or in the office, working for 70 hours or less or more. Emphasis on wellbeing at work will only increase going forward.