How overworked are Indians and can this stress be fatal? – Firstpost

The tragic death of a 26-year-old employee at Ernst & Young (EY) in Pune due to alleged work pressure has caused an uproar in India. The Ministry of Labour is investigating the “allegations of an unsafe and exploitative work environment” that Anna Sebastian Perayil's family say she was subjected to.

The heartbreaking letter from Anna's mother Anita Augustine, which went viral, highlighted the long working hours and work pressure her daughter faced and blamed them for the young woman's death. The incident sparked discussions about the overwork culture in India. It also raised the question of whether overwork can be fatal.

Let us understand.

Overwork culture in India

In India, work is considered “worship.” Anyone who doesn't work at least 8-9 hours five days a week is called “lazy.” But Indians are anything but lazy.

According to International Labour Organization (ILO) estimates for 2024, the average working hours in India will be 46 hours per week, placing India on the list of countries with the longest average working hours. Only Bhutan, Lebanon, Lesotho, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Pakistan are ahead of India.

The ILO Global Wage Report 2020-21: Wages and minimum wages in the time of COVID-19 The report found that while Indians are among the most overworked people in the world, the South Asian country has the lowest minimum wage in the world, with the exception of some sub-Saharan countries.

So when celebrities and billionaires call for Indians to work more, it hits a sore spot. Infosys' Narayana Murthy's remark that India's youth should “work 70 hours a week” sparked outrage on social media. BJP MP and actress Kangana Ranaut's post on the need to “normalize an obsessive work culture” did not go down well with most netizens.

How dangerous is overwork?

According to reports, colleagues of Anna, a chartered accountant at SR Batliboi, a member firm of EY Global, in Pune, were told that she had died of a heart attack. A letter from her mother mentioned how the extreme work culture affected her health and ultimately led to her death.

Last January, the Delhi High Court found that toxic work culture was a social problem and that the government, trade unions, companies and health authorities needed to take appropriate action.

In Japan, there is a term for how long working hours can lead to tragic consequences: karoshiwhich means death by overwork. The first documented case of karoshi was in 1969, when a 29-year-old man who worked for a Japanese newspaper publisher died of a stroke.

Research results published in the journal Environment International in 2021 showed that people who work more than 54 hours a week are more likely to die from overwork. According to the newspaper, three-quarters of a million people die each year from ischemic heart disease and strokes because of working long hours.

Ischemic heart disease, also called coronary artery disease, is caused by narrowed arteries that supply blood to the heart muscle.

Overwork can negatively affect health in two ways. Chronic stress that builds up over time leads to an increase in stress hormones, which in turn triggers an increase in blood pressure and cholesterol levels, says BBC.

Overwork can also lead to unhealthy behavior. People who work long hours may sleep too little, eat poorly, exercise little, and smoke to cope with work pressure.

In conversation with Indian ExpressDr Rakesh Gupta, senior consultant of internal medicine at Indraprastha Apollo Hospital, said working under high pressure triggers the body's “fight or flight” response and releases stress hormones. This “constant state of alertness” interferes with normal body functions and leads to headaches, muscle tension, digestive problems and sleep disturbances.

Sufferers also experience anxiety, irritability and lack of concentration, leading to a decline in productivity, Dr. Gupta said.

According to a study by Stanford University, employees who work 60 hours a week have lower average productivity than those who work 40 hours.

Long-term stress can also lead to other mental health problems such as depression and burnout. Experts say if these problems are left untreated, it could even lead to suicidal thoughts.

READ ALSO: 'Regret missing her funeral': EY India chairman Rajiv Memani after telling 26-year-old employee: 'Don't think overwork killed her'

Can overwork lead to death?

High stress increases the risk of heart attacks and heart failure, especially in young people with heart problems such as heart disease, said Dr. Alan Yeung, medical director of Stanford Cardiovascular Health Time Magazine.

Experts say working too much can lead to death, but it's rare. Dr. Yeung said stress-related heart failure is only fatal when it's accompanied by other factors, such as chronic stress, a sudden stressful situation and likely underlying heart disease.

According to Dr. Nishant Singh, senior consultant of internal medicine at Yatharth Hospital, Noida Extension, chronic stress can cause severe cardiovascular events, heart attack or stroke, which can be fatal, reported Indian Express.

What can be done?

When you work in a high-pressure environment, it's important to manage stress. Changing lifestyle habits through regular exercise, healthy eating and quitting smoking can be the first step. Take regular breaks and spend some time in peace. Seeking help and talking to loved ones can also help manage stress.

Companies must ensure that their employees work in a healthy environment. Measures such as hotlines must be in place to ensure that help is available for people in need. No deadline can be more important than a person's life.

It is important that we stop glorifying overwork.

With contributions from agencies