The Indian workforce is grappling with digital overwork, where uninterrupted connectivity is demanded, and employees are expected to be always available. WHO statistics state that those who work 55 hours or more per week face a 35% higher risk of stroke compared to working 35-40 hours a week.
Work-life balance continues to gain prominence, and the Right to Disconnect Bill, 2025, deserves the attention it is receiving. The newly enacted bill grants employees the right to ignore work-related calls, messages, and emails after office hours. Plans are underway to mandate employer compliance through the Employees Welfare Authority to regulate after-hours digital communication. It is clear that the structural problem in the modern digital work culture must be addressed. This blog explores the connection between overtime and employee burnout and what can be done about it.
Overtime and Employee Burnout Connection
According to the International Labor Organization (ILO) 2024 data, Indians work an average of 46.8 hours per week. In many Indian organizations, long working hours are prevalent. Often, it is considered a mark of sincerity when employees stay longer than necessary.
The overtime culture in India, with extended working hours, contributes to workplace burnout. Exhaustion and mental strain are associated with burnout. Consistently working for longer hours, job pressure, and constant connectivity further intensify these symptoms. Continuous overtime can affect employee well-being and performance.
How Long Working Hours Impact Employee Wellbeing at Work
Overtime increases the total workload, thereby increasing the job demands employees face. Stress accumulates, and, due to long working hours, fatigue, sleep impairment, and unhealthy behaviors can result. These are known precursors to burnout.
Apart from physical exhaustion, long working hours impact employees’ personal lives. Work-family conflict arises when employees are not satisfied with the limited time they spend with their families. Further, overtime reduces the time available for employees to rest and recover. The always-on norm common in India is linked to mental health strain and burnout symptoms.
Longer work hours are associated with lower work-life balance and increased occupational stress, affecting overall job satisfaction and employees' psychological well-being.
A productivity paradox occurs when employees work longer hours, yet productivity decreases. So, extended work doesn’t proportionately increase output. Instead, it can lead to errors, lower quality, and poor execution.
Work-related stress is one of the major reasons for Indians to quit their jobs. Elevated stress and burnout can eventually lead to absenteeism, disengagement, and talent turnover.
Why Overtime Culture in India Persists
Many organizations in India still portray working overtime as a badge of commitment. The labor codes in India cap working hours and demand overtime pay. Organizations must understand that overtime is not a standard.
Ongoing policy debates over the labor code amendments and the right-to-disconnect bill highlight tensions between worker well-being and economic outcomes. Organizations in India must consider employee work hours not just as a compliance issue, but as a signal of evolving expectations.
Signs to Watch Out for Burnout in Indian Workplaces
Signs of burnout become evident due to overtime and longer work hours. Some of the symptoms of burnout are
Trends in extra working hours logged
Employee reports of fatigue
Reduced engagement and increased detachment among employees
Increasing absenteeism, quality issues, or employee errors
Indicators of work-life imbalance from surveys or pulse checks
These indicators may show that overtime demands are starting to erode employees' work well-being and performance.
Mitigating Overtime and Employee Burnout Through Organizational Strategy
Employers must design and implement policies to limit overtime and prevent overwork.
Align job demands with resources: The Job Demands-Resources (JD-R) model balances job demands with resources, such as autonomy. Leadership must learn to manage workloads in relation to employee capacity, reducing strain on employees.
Emphasize work-life balance: Develop work systems with clear expectations on availability. Establish after-hours working protocols that allow employees to minimize the possibility of stress and burnout and protect their recovery time.
Offer wellbeing programs: Wellbeing solutions must be an integral part of the employee benefits strategy. Mental health support programs reduce burnout and improve job satisfaction.
Leaders can act as role models by taking regular breaks for rest and recovery, demonstrating the organizational commitment to employees. When employees contribute without burnout, their performance becomes more sustainable.
Final Thoughts
Longer working hours can drive overtime and employee burnout in Indian workplaces. Job stress and lack of time for rest and recovery affect both the physical and mental health of employees. It reduces productivity, job satisfaction, and retention. To address overtime-related burnout, HR leaders must implement structural changes and policies. Thoughtful workforce design must balance job demands with resources. Leaders must embed well-being into the organizational culture and model healthy work boundaries to support both individual and collective well-being.
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