“But you will have to be available on WhatsApp 24x7!”

To say the least, the Indian work culture isn’t going where it looks like. While the workplaces are getting glamorous and grand by the day, the mindset of the bosses and HR teams are getting petty! From pay cuts for coloring hair, keeping a beard, etc to peons stalking you and constant need to be present – the bosses today leave no stone unturned when it comes to harassing the employees fro work.

I recently read an article on how employees are made to feel guilty of even taking planned leaves as per the work schedules. Indeed even as a freelance writer, I am pressurized to serve the work on days when I ain’t working or ain’t able to!

From huge workloads, high expectations, to creating an environment that sabotages the mental space – workplaces today might look like a piece of rainbow cake but is recording highest rate of physical and mental breakdown! Bosses are silent spectators of HRs turning the red flags from employees, unusual remarks and constant pressure silent! The same job that employees join with dreams of working towards the best – turns into a nightmare for them!

If you browse through the #toxicworkculture through the internet you shall find complaints of people from all walks of life. While some were made to skip weekends four times in a row stretching their presence to 30 whole days 24x7, others talk about how office favoritism, workplace remarks, dejection, sexual harassment, etc are common in the workplace these days. Even the most talented professionals are quitting their dream jobs due to toxic work culture.

No doubt the company runs on deadlines offered by the clients, but this ‘deadline’ is the terminology that has disrupted too many careers in India. This is just an addition to the employee layoff plans, no-raise policies and declining employment rate in India.

Where are we going?