IT employees burn Murthy, L&T Chief’s effigies for proposing longer workweeks
The Indian IT industry has been grappling with issues of burnout, mental health, and work-life balance for some time now. Recently, two prominent business leaders, Infosys Founder Narayana Murthy and L&T Chairman SN Subrahmanyan, sparked outrage among IT employees by suggesting longer workweeks. In response, a group of IT employees in Bengaluru took to the streets to protest against these proposals, burning effigies of the two business leaders.
The protest, led by the Karnataka IT Unions (KITU), an IT employees’ union in Karnataka, was staged in front of the Bengaluru Police Commissioner’s office. Despite the police’s attempts to stop them, the employees managed to burn the effigies, sending a strong message to the business leaders and the industry as a whole.
Murthy’s proposal, which suggested that employees work 70 hours a week, was met with widespread criticism from the IT community. Many argued that such a long workweek would only exacerbate the existing issues of burnout and employee fatigue. Subrahmanyan’s suggestion, which proposed 90 hours a week, was seen as even more extreme and was widely condemned.
The fact that two such prominent business leaders would suggest such long workweeks is a reflection of the industry’s priorities and values. The IT industry has long been accused of prioritizing profits over people, with employees often being expected to work long hours with little regard for their well-being.
The IT industry has seen a significant increase in employee burnout and mental health issues in recent years. Long hours, high expectations, and a lack of work-life balance have all contributed to this problem. The industry’s focus on productivity and efficiency has often come at the expense of employee well-being.
The proposals by Murthy and Subrahmanyan only serve to exacerbate this problem. Rather than addressing the root causes of burnout and employee fatigue, these proposals would only serve to increase the workload and stress levels of IT employees.
The protest by KITU is a welcome response to these proposals. By burning the effigies of Murthy and Subrahmanyan, the employees are sending a strong message that they will not be treated as mere cogs in the corporate machine. They are demanding respect for their well-being and a better work-life balance.
The IT industry needs to take note of this protest and the concerns of its employees. Rather than prioritizing profits over people, the industry needs to prioritize the well-being of its employees. This can be achieved through measures such as flexible working hours, mental health support, and a focus on work-life balance.
The proposals by Murthy and Subrahmanyan are a step in the wrong direction. They are a reflection of the industry’s continued prioritization of profits over people. The IT industry needs to do better than this. It needs to prioritize the well-being of its employees and treat them as human beings, not just as machines that can be exploited for their labor.
