NEW DELHI: Even as there is a raging debate on long working hours, lasting 70-90 hours work week, the Economic Survey 2024-25 on Friday said prioritising mental health in the workplace matters for overall well-being and harmonious society and can enhance worker productivity.
The Survey, tabled in the parliament by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman a day before the Union Budget, highlighted issues like long working hours, work culture, and lifestyle choices that impact mental health.
“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 said.
Quoting a World Health Organisation (WHO) study, it said that globally, about 12 billion days are lost annually due to depression and anxiety, amounting to a financial loss of $1 trillion. “In rupee terms, this translates to about ₹7,000 per day given the direct costs to human welfare and the spirit and sentiment of the nation, putting mental well-being at the centre of the economic agenda is prudent.”
The report cited a survey conducted in India and said that spending long hours at one’s desk is equally detrimental to mental well-being.
According to the survey, individuals who spend 12 or more hours at a desk have distressed/struggling levels of mental well-being, with a mental well-being score approximately 100 points lower than those who spend less than or equal to two hours at a desk.
It also said that individuals with the best manager/colleague relationships report a 100-point higher (or 33 per cent) mental well-being score than their counterparts working with the worst manager/peer relationships.
Similarly, those reporting the best workload report 80 points or 27 per cent greater mental well-being than their counterparts with the worst workload.
Further, individuals who report the best pride and purpose at work have a 100-point more excellent mental well-being score (0r 33 per cent) and a 120-point (40 per cent) more excellent well-being score than those who report the worst.
In addition, individuals in fully remote work situations have a mental well-being score about 50 points (17 per cent) lower than counterparts in entirely in-person or hybrid work models, suggesting that social interaction at work is essential to preserve 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.
“While promoting a better workplace culture will lead to better mental well-being, lifestyle choices and family situations also play a significant role.”
It also said that the survey results showed that individuals who rarely consume ultra-processed or packaged junk food have better mental well-being than those who regularly do.
Similarly, those who rarely exercise, spend their free time on social media or are not close to their families have worse mental well-being.
“While the low levels of mental well-being are worrying, the ramifications of these trends on the economy are equally disturbing.
The survey results show the extent to which lifestyle choices and workplace culture are associated with the number of days an individual cannot work per month.
Better lifestyle choices/workplace cultures and family relationships are associated with 2-3 fewer days lost per month at work. “Having poor relationships with managers and low (worst) pride and purpose at work are associated with the largest increases in the number of days one cannot work.”
The findings also suggest that multiple factors affect productivity.
Citing an example, it said that even in jobs with the best managerial relationships, about 5 days per month are lost. This is because workplace culture is but one factor (among several) in the determination of productivity (and 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," the survey said, citing findings by Pega F, Nafradi B (2021) and 'A systematic analysis from the WHO/ILO Joint Estimates of the Work-related Burden of Disease and Injury'.
Having poor relationships with managers and low (worst) pride and purpose at work are associated with the largest increases in the number of days one is unable to work, it said.
The take by the Economic Survey 2024-25 on work hour week comes weeks after Larsen & Toubro Ltd Chairman SN Subrahmanyan sparked off a raging debate on social media when he said employees should work 90-hour a week, including on Sundays rather than sit at home.
He followed Infosys co-founder Narayana Murthy's suggestion of a 70-hour workweek and Adani Group chairman Gautam Adani's "biwi bhaag jayegi (wife will run away)" remark if one spent more than eight hours at home. However, Subrahmanyan drew criticism from some peers in the business community.
RPG Group Chairman Harsh Goenka said longer working hours was a recipe for burnout and not success.
Mahindra Group Chairman Anand Mahindra also asserted that focus should be on the quality of work and productivity rather than the amount of time spent working.
Similarly, ITC Ltd Chairman Sanjiv Puri stated that empowering employees to realise their potential and accomplish their jobs well was more important than the number of hours put in.
The work-life balance debate echoes a similar one in China where the so-called '996 culture'—the' three digits describe a punishing schedule of 9 am to 9 pm six days a week—is being hotly debated.
Citing other studies, the economic survey noted that if India's economic ambitions are to be met, then immediate attention must be given to lifestyle choices that are often made during childhood and youth.
Furthermore, 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.
(Inputs from agencies added to the story)
