Concerns Related to Work-Life Balance

Syllabus: GS3/Economy, GS4/ Ethics

Context

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has taken suo moto cognizance of the reported death of a chartered accountant girl from Kerala in Pune due to alleged excessive workload in a private company.

The Commission urged the businesses to review their work culture, employment policies, and regulations to ensure alignment with global human rights standards.
It also emphasised that businesses should be sensitive to and accountable for human rights issues.
The Commission issued a notice to the Ministry of Labour and Employment to submit a report within four weeks.
- The report is expected to include the steps being and proposed to be taken to ensure such incidents do not recur.

Work-life balance refers to the ability to effectively manage your professional responsibilities alongside your personal life and well-being.
It involves finding a healthy equilibrium between work obligations, family time, personal interests, and self-care.
Achieving this balance can lead to reduced stress, improved productivity, and overall better mental and physical health.

Increased Stress: Over time, an overwhelming amount of stress can lead to many lifestyle diseases like high BP, diabetes, and even mental health issues.
Prolonged imbalance can result in burnout, characterized by exhaustion, cynicism, and reduced efficacy at work.
Neglecting personal life can harm relationships.
An imbalance can lead to feelings of resentment toward work.

According to the International Labour Organization (ILO) the average work week in some of the first-world countries is less than in India.
- While the average workweek in India is 46.7 hours, in contrast to this, people in the United States work for an average of 38 hours a week, in Japan for 36.6 hours per week, and in the UK for roughly 35.9 hours.
India makes it one of the top 15 countries in the world to have the highest workweeks.

Technological Advancements: The rise of remote work and constant connectivity through smartphones makes it difficult for employees to disconnect from work.
Cultural Expectations: In India it is a cultural expectation to prioritize work, leading employees to sacrifice personal time for job commitments.
Job Insecurity: Economic fluctuations and a competitive job market cause individuals to work longer hours to demonstrate commitment and job security.
Workplace Hierarchies: Traditional hierarchies in many organizations lead to a culture of overwork, where employees feel pressured to adhere to long hours.

Right to disconnect: In 2017, France became the first country to have a right to disconnect law for employees.
- According to it, workers have a right to ignore work-related communications after their working hours.
- Over the years, many countries including Spain, Belgium, Italy, Ireland, Australia among others have also implemented this law.
- In Portugal managers can even be fined for calling their employees after their work hours.
4-day work week: Many countries have now adopted a 4-day work week culture which aims at having more productivity and keeping employees happy.
- Some countries that have adopted this policy include Belgium, Netherlands, Japan, among others.
Mandatory Vacations: In Austria employees who have worked for six months or more in a company are entitled to get a minimum of five weeks of paid annual leave every year.
- At a time when employees are sometimes made to feel guilty for taking leaves, adopting such laws would help make workplaces better for their employees’ well-being.
Career break or time credit: In Belgium, people can take a year-off from their work without losing their job.
- In some special cases, this time credit can be extended to up to six years.

They are legal instruments drawn up by the ILO’s constituents (governments, employers and workers) and setting out basic principles and rights at work.
Conventions and Recommendations: ILS are formal instruments that include conventions (legally binding) and recommendations (non-binding). Countries that ratify conventions commit to implementing the standards.
- These include freedom of association, the right to collective bargaining, the elimination of forced labor, the abolition of child labor, and the elimination of discrimination in employment.
Decent Work Agenda: This framework promotes opportunities for everyone to obtain decent and productive work in conditions of freedom, equity, security, and human dignity.
Social Protection: ILS advocate for social security systems that provide support in times of need, such as unemployment, illness, and retirement.

The Bhagavad Gita, also emphasises the need to have balance in all aspects of one’s life.
- When applied to modern times, it teaches one to be detached and stay balanced to lead a more fulfilling life– be it their professional or personal life.
Addressing work-life balance is essential for individual well-being and organizational health.

Source: AIR

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