In the dynamic realm of Indian IT, a troubling trend surfaces: employees are logging longer hours, averaging 45 to 50 hours per week, disrupting the industry’s standard practices. This isn’t just a water cooler topic; it’s triggered a widespread dialogue, largely spurred by Infosys founder Narayana Murthy, advocating for a hefty 70-hour workweek. Let’s explore the article with key points.
Key Points:
Extended Work Hours: Indian IT employees are averaging 45 to 50 hours per week, diverging from industry norms, sparking widespread industry discussions.
Industry Dialogue: Infosys founder Narayana Murthy’s endorsement of a 70-hour workweek intensifies the conversation on work hours and productivity in the IT sector.
Productivity vs. Hours: Experts criticize the focus on counting hours rather than improving actual productivity, pointing to infrastructure challenges, commuting issues, and work-induced stress.
Stagnant Productivity: Despite revenue surges in the past five years, the productivity per rupee spent on employee compensation remains unchanged, signaling a disconnect between investment and output.
People Cost vs. Revenue Productivity: The ratio of talent costs to revenue productivity stagnates at Rs 1.8-1.9, hinting at escalating people costs without a proportional increase in productivity for major IT players.
Digitalization vs. Productivity: Despite heavy investments in digitalization, AI, and automation, per-person productivity growth remains minimal, impacting problem-solving abilities and inducing fatigue among employees.
Revenue Per Employee Trends: Analyzing the five-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR), TCS, Wipro, and HCLTech exhibit declining revenue per employee, contrasting with modest increases by Infosys and TechMahindra.
Work-Life Balance Concerns: Data from TeamLease Digital highlights that 58% of the Indian IT workforce experiences an average to poor work-life balance, surpassing the global average of 40%.
Conclusion:
Amidst prolonged work hours, stagnant productivity, and concerns over work-life balance, the Indian IT sector faces a critical juncture. The industry-wide discourse fueled by Narayana Murthy’s stance and industry reports signifies a dire need for a shift in focus—moving away from mere hours logged towards fostering a culture that prioritizes both productivity and employee well-being. As major players grapple with declining revenue per employee and minimal productivity growth despite heavy tech investments, the call for transformative workplace practices resonates louder than ever.
Source @ indiatoday
