● Survey explores critical aspects of workplace stress, productivity, compensation, and generational perspectives
● 84% respondents said that the preferred work week is 40-50 hours
● 62% respondents said that unreasonable expectations was the primary cause of stress
Mumbai : Taking forward the debate on the hot topic of longer work hours, Venator Search Partners, a retained leadership search firm focused at banking & financial services sector, conducted a survey on critical aspects of workplace stress, productivity, compensation, and generational perspectives. 62% of the respondents said that an unreasonable expectation at work was the primary cause of stress. 28% felt that a difficult boss caused stress and only 10% said that long working hours stressed them out.
Although long working hours was not a leading cause of stress, 68% of the respondents felt that long hours lead to a demotivated workforce and higher attrition rates. A 2023 Assocham report had also given similar findings, where 65% of Indian employees believed that extended work hours stifle creativity, hindering organizational productivity and growth.
Deloitte India’s 2022 report estimates that workplace stress costs the Indian economy an annual $14 billion, underscoring the urgent need for systemic interventions to address these challenges.
The survey also revealed that a majority of employees, or 84%, don’t get paid more if they work for extended hours. There’s also a clear preference against measuring performance by the number of work hours. 80% of respondents said that organizations should prioritize performance metrics centered on outcomes rather than time spent.
Employers must consider aligning compensation policies with actual work hours to improve employee satisfaction. Around 84% of the respondents said that their preferred work week is between 40-50 hours; only 2% supported a work week exceeding 50 hours. Employees can balance their personal and professional commitments well if they have a 40-50 hour work week.
In cities like Mumbai, Bangalore, and Delhi, where commuting can take 2-3 hours daily, 90% of respondents said that 12-hour workdays were impractical. They felt that employers should take into account the traffic congestions and commuting realities.
“While the ideal solution remains elusive, companies should strive to adapt to the evolving demands of the modern workforce. Businesses and employees should reflect on what constitutes a healthy, productive work environment in today’s corporate landscape,” said Deepraditya Datta , Founder Venator Search Partners
In answer to the critical question on if generations have a difference in thought with regards to work-life balance, 66% of participants believed that there was no correlation between age and preference for long working hours. However, 30% felt that baby boomers are more likely to favour extended hours, while 4% thought the same for Gen Z.
