Workplace Reforms Needed: Ex-HCL CEO Highlights Crisis After Young CA’s Death

On Thursday, former HCL CEO Vineet Nayar shed light on a critical issue following the heartbreaking death of a 26-year-old CA in Pune, emphasizing the urgent need for business leaders to tackle the exploitation of young workers. He denounced the practice of overburdening young employees under the guise of "training" or "real-world preparation."

"Although hard work is essential, extreme hours should not become standard. The World Health Organization links long working hours to a 35% increased risk of stroke and a 17% higher risk of heart disease," he said in a detailed post on LinkedIn. "This prevalent pattern sees young professionals working tirelessly for weeks or months without a break, fostering a toxic culture where exhaustion is celebrated and well-being is ignored."

The recent passing of Anna Sebastian Perayil, a 26-year-old CA at Ernst & Young (EY), due to "work stress," as claimed by her mother Anita Augustine, has brought this issue into the spotlight. Augustine's email to EY's India head, Rajiv Memani, criticized the firm for its excessive demands and highlighted the disparity between the company’s professed human rights values and her daughter’s experience.

Nayar, who served as Vice Chairman & CEO of HCL Technologies from 2007 to 2013, urged companies to reassess their work environments to eliminate such detrimental practices. "When long hours are necessary, companies must provide support such as rest areas, meals, mental health resources, and mandatory time off."

Quoting a 2019 Gallup study that found burnout diminishes productivity by 63% and negatively impacts employee well-being, Nayar stressed the need for businesses to focus on long-term sustainability rather than short-term profits.

He also highlighted the crucial role of HR in employee well-being. "HR is pivotal to an organisation's culture. Yet often, HR departments are either unaware or unresponsive to burnout signs. A study by the American Psychological Association indicates that 75% of employees experience significant workplace stress, with nearly half requiring help managing it," he wrote.

Nayar concluded by emphasizing that a company's future success is intertwined with its treatment of employees. "We need to start asking ourselves: Are we willing to measure success not just by financial performance but by the health and happiness of the employees driving that performance? The data is clear: when employee well-being improves, so does organizational success."