Union Budget 2025 | ‘Hostile work culture can put the brakes on economic growth’

Bengaluru: Even as country head honchos are propounding a 90-hour work week and dismissing the need for weekend breaks, the country’s Economic Survey tabled on Friday, dealt at length on the negative impact of long work-hours and hostile work cultures, on economic growth.

In fact, going beyond last year’s Economic Survey, that recognised mental health as an economic issue, the document presented six months down the line delved further into the “disturbing” ramifications of low mental well-being on the economy. It discussed at length issues of workplace culture, lifestyle and family situations.

It drew its references from a study by the World Health Organisation that found that about 12 billion work days are lost annually to depression and anxiety, inflicting a financial loss of $1 trillion or about Rs 7,000 a day. The study also faulted prior surveys for their limited understanding of mental health’s relation to lifestyle, work culture and other associated factors.

For its part, the Economic Survey 2024-25 acknowledged, “Putting mental well-being at the centre of the economic agenda is prudent. The scale of the problem is immense… Post-facto treatment will not be sufficient.” Hostile work cultures and excessive hours spent working at the desk can adversely affect mental well-being and ultimately put the brakes on the pace of economic growth, it added.

Contrary to the demands being made by the likes of Infosys’ Narayana Murthy and L&T’s SN Subrahmanyan, the Economic Survey pointed out that individuals who spend 12 or more hours at a desk have distressed levels of mental well-being. “While the hours spent at work are informally considered a measure of productivity, a previous study has documented adverse health effects when hours exceed 55-60 per week,” it stated.

The document also observed, “Work culture comprises the myriad of factors that define an individual's experience at work, including work amount/load, manager and peer relationships, and perceived control.” Individuals with low mental-wellbeing are unable to work up to 15 days per month. On the other hand, better workplace cultures, lifestyle choices, and family relationships are associated with at least 2-3 fewer days lost per month at work.

It was noted that having poor relationships with managers and low pride and purpose at work are associated with the largest increases in the number of days one is unable to work.

Still, productivity cannot be chalked up to one factor alone. For example, even in jobs with the best managerial relationships, about 5 days per month are lost.

Union Budget 2025 | Nirmala Sitharaman, who continues to be Finance Minister, will present her record 8th Union Budget this time. While inflation has burnt a hole in the pockets of 'aam janata', reports suggest there might be a tax relief for those making up to Rs 15 lakh per year. Track the latest coverage, live news, in-depth opinions, and analysis only on Deccan Herald. Also follow us on WhatsApp, LinkedIn, X, Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram.