The increasing workload and long hours in the IT sector have led to a significant rise in mental health challenges among professionals in Bangalore. As the city has become the hub for global IT companies, the pressure to meet deadlines and performance targets is escalating. The demands of the industry, coupled with a lack of work-life balance, are having a profound effect on employees’ mental well-being. This heightened stress and burnout can lead to a decline in both physical and mental health, impacting job performance, relationships, and overall quality of life.
The concern for mental health among individuals has been steadfast since the last decade. High working pressure and hectic schedules for job purposes contribute significantly to the rising levels of tension and stress among people. Moreover, Bangalore has emerged as the leading hub for the IT sector in recent years, accommodating over 2 million employees. 80% of all global IT is situated here, contributing to it being termed the Silicon Valley of India. Bangalore is responsible for about 40% of India’s IT exports. In 2021–22, the city’s IT exports were worth US$ 53 billion.
The theory proposed by Narayana Murthy, founder of Infosys, is that employees should work 70 hours a week, and only then can India prosper and reach the level of tech professionals in Japan and China. This theory was the reason for many professionals leaving the company due to overwhelming work pressure and negligible work-life balance. With almost 14 hours a day of work, people get burnt out and lose their mental stability, which also affects their quality of work. “We endure hours of shifts and demanding work, which exhausts us. Talking about the mental health of workers, it suffers prominently due to these factors. Some even have to compromise this aspect and devote themselves completely just for the sake of their tedious and long-hour jobs,” says Apoorv Srivastava, an IT professional employed in one of the significant companies in Bangalore.
This exactly explains why it is important to focus on people’s mental health in workplaces, especially in the IT industry, where there are long working hours fixated on a desk. The monotony of the job causes early burnouts, which can also affect work quality and, when combined with performance pressure, can lead to unexpected and unfortunate consequences. It is necessary to provide breaks so that employees can reset and then work efficiently. Mental health is often neglected because it is not as visible as physical health, but it is more harmful to your body than physical damage. If you are not in a healthy state of mind, it can affect your body, your work, and your day-to-day activities. Poor mental health leads to depression, anxiety, lethargy, nausea, and several other problems that can last long-term and may become chronic diseases.
Other issues revolve around the stigma and various negative perceptions surrounding mental health in India that disrupt a healthy working environment for employees. The data collected by the World Economic Forum highlights three broader segments that represent the numerous connotations people perceive towards individuals suffering from mental illnesses. Mental health continues to be a taboo subject in many professional environments, and employees often feel reluctant to discuss or seek help for mental health challenges due to fear of judgment, discrimination, or damage to their professional reputation. This cultural stigma creates an environment where individuals suffering from mental health conditions may feel isolated, unsupported, and forced to hide their struggles, leading to further deterioration of their mental well-being.
In conclusion, the intense work pressure in Bangalore’s IT sector is silently harming mental health, with long hours, high expectations, and poor work-life balance causing stress and burnout. To tackle this, organizations need to create healthier workplaces, prioritize well-being, and adopt sustainable practices to prevent further damage to both individuals and industry productivity. Without changes, the mental health toll will grow, affecting lives and industry productivity.
Co-Author: Pravasa Das, Student at Christ University
Team Profile
- News Writer
- Radhika Shankar is a distinguished student enrolled at Christ University, where she is pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Media and Journalism. With a fervent passion for the field, Radhika is dedicated to honing her skills and expanding her knowledge in media and journalism.
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