Recently, the tragic death of an employee at a leading MNC due to an alleged excessive workload has shaken the corporate world. This heartbreaking incident forces us to look deeper into the very fabric of our workplaces.

Why are employees pushed beyond their limits?

What are companies missing in their quest for profit?

What do we need to change so that we don’t lose more lives to work-related stress?

In this post, we’ll break down critical aspects of the workplace environment, how they affect our well-being, and why we need to rethink how we work.

1. Employer-Employee Relations: Building Trust and Respect

A healthy workplace starts with strong, transparent, and mutually respectful relationships between employers and employees. However, the tragic event at the MNC has highlighted the breakdown in these relationships.

• Open Communication: Employees need to feel heard. Employers who foster an environment of trust, where workers can raise concerns about workloads or deadlines without fear of retaliation, tend to build healthier workplaces.
• Fair Expectations: While growth is essential for both the employee and the company, overburdening workers with unrealistic targets can lead to burnout and tragedy. Companies should ensure workloads are achievable and aligned with the employee’s capacity.

2. Positive Management: Leading with Empathy and Vision

• Emotional Intelligence (EQ): Managers who practice emotional intelligence can better read their employees’ stress levels, workload capacity, and emotional state. Managers with high EQ create an environment where employees can thrive, and their mental health is prioritized.
• Resilience Building: Encouraging resilience is essential, but resilience does not mean enduring excessive workloads. Leaders must encourage their teams, but not at the cost of their mental and physical health.

3. Employee Growth Aspirations vs. Overwork

• Ambition Mismanagement: Many employees are highly motivated and may accept challenging workloads in the hope of career advancement. However, employers must set boundaries, helping employees grow without sacrificing their health.
• Knowing Your Limits: Employees must understand that success comes with balance. Learning how to say "no" when the workload becomes overwhelming is critical. Saying “no” professionally can be a sign of strength, not weakness.

4. Organizational Culture: The Silent Influencer

Culture can make or break a workplace. It impacts how employees behave, how they work, and how they view themselves within the organization.

• Positive Culture: A workplace with a positive culture encourages collaboration, work-life balance, and respect for individual limits. Employees are more productive when they are part of an organization that values their health and well-being.
• Toxic Culture: In contrast, a toxic culture can drive employees to overwork to prove their worth. Working late or answering emails post-office hours should not be a mark of dedication, but unfortunately, many companies still equate long hours with productivity.

5. Work-Life Balance: The Core of Sustainable Productivity

The concept of work-life balance is not a luxury—it’s a necessity. Employees need time to recharge, spend with their families, and pursue personal interests outside of work.

• Real Productivity vs. ‘Looking Busy’: Many organizations are stuck in the belief that long hours mean productivity. However, actual productivity comes from a balanced mind, clear goals, a