Produced by: BT Desk Designed by: Manoj Kumar
A mother’s letter to E&Y India, blaming her daughter’s death on excessive workload, has triggered online fury, highlighting the issue of hustle culture at work, especially at global giants like the Big Four.
A staggering 86% of working Indians are either struggling or outright suffering, according to a Gallup survey, revealing that toxic workplace environments are widespread, with impacts that extend far beyond the office.
Toxic work cultures don’t just affect productivity—they seep into employees’ mental health, leading to high rates of anxiety, depression, and absenteeism, which can cost companies billions annually in lost output.
Over 90% of employees thinking about quitting cite toxic work culture as the main reason—far more influential than salary, underscoring how critical workplace environments are in retaining talent.
Despite the desire to quit, many Indian workers stay in toxic jobs due to financial pressures and family responsibilities, forcing them to endure burnout while putting their mental health at risk.
Many employees are quietly quitting—doing just enough to keep their jobs but lacking any engagement or extra effort. This has a severe impact on innovation and productivity, dragging down overall performance.
Quiet quitting costs businesses over $500 billion annually in the U.S. alone. Globally, this disengagement leads to an estimated $8.9 trillion loss, or 9% of the world’s GDP, making it a massive economic issue.
The silver lining? Over 60% of Indian workers say they would stick with a company that has a positive culture, far above the global average, suggesting that creating a good work environment pays off.