A recent meme about an out-of-office status went viral on social media. A European had signed off citing camping, while his Indian counterpart undergoing a kidney surgery signed off saying available on cellphone. The follow-up messages to the meme put forward a stark reality—workers in India never really “sign out” from work. In other words, the hustle never stops.
In its true form, a hustle culture puts work on a pedestal, often at the cost of personal sacrifices. It isn’t uncommon in a society where “work is worship” is taught from a young age that people believe a “good” life is one where professional milestones are encouraged and celebrated continuously.
But some companies are realizing that hustling might not be the true answer to a happy workplace. As the second covid-19 wave ravaged the country, India Inc. stood up for its employees, offering medical help. In the process, some firms also paused and re-evaluated their…