Bangalore, renamed as Bengaluru referred to as the Silicon Valley of India or IT capital of India. This capital city of Karnataka is one of the most congested cities in India. In 2023, it was reportedly found that there was a maximum of 257 hours of commuters who spent their hours on the road, leading to 132 hours of congestion. This seems to be a factor in Bangalore people becoming too workaholic.
Tech hub dominance
The information technology (IT) and startup ecosystem is thriving in Bangalore and made it the go to destination for ambitious professionals. The IT giants, including Infosys and Wipro, along with startups like Swiggy and Zerodha, are headquartered in the city. Job seekers are constantly driven to meet the demands of the competitive market.
The culture in tech companies involves long hours and high workloads, where professionals have strived to innovate and deliver under pressure. On top of that, the Infosys co-founder (NR Narayana Murthy) has said that young people should work 70 hours a week to boost India’s economy. Although his statement created a lot of criticism, it is somewhat imbibing a sense of awareness among young minds.
Tech-driven productivity tools
Bangalore’s tech-savvy population is focused on productivity tools, which are Slack, Microsoft Teams and Zoom. Hence, it makes it easy for work to spill over into personal time. These tools are useful to stay connected and collaborate due to, which makes it hard to disconnect from work and maintain a proper work-life balance.
In Bangalore, productivity-oriented software start-ups are making waves. Innovation in automation, AI, and streamlined workflows are taking place to improve efficiency for businesses. Atlassian is a start-up that has a presence in Bangalore. This company offers collaborative tools, i.e., Jira and Trello, so it can improve project management and productivity across development.
It is known for its tools that facilitate communication, project tracking, along with code management. These have gained traction and are used by Fortune 500 companies. Due to these open advancements, the growing population in the city is in a rush to understand and use them.
Rise of hybrid and remote work
Although remote work was seen as a perk, it has blurred the boundaries between personal and professional life. Professionals in Bangalore are working late into the night to keep up with global clients and teams across different time zones. Atlan is one such example in its mission to transform the work-life culture of employees.
During and post-pandemic, approximately 90 per cent of its workforce worked remotely. There are other companies, including Infosys, Microsoft, SAP, Tech Mahindra, etc., to offer hybrid work settings. The rise of hybrid work arrangements has created an always-on mentality where professionals work beyond the traditional working hours. This may sound exciting, but because of the workers often feel exhausted and frustrated, thus contributing to employee burnout.
Indraneel Banerjee’s insights from McKinsey & Company (India) demonstrated the changing workplace. He highlighted the significant benefits of remote work that has brought in, especially for the roles that are suited to operate independently. This guarantees the notion that hybrid work setups can sustain and change productivity among professionals. The trend of hybrid work is evident as companies are embracing hybrid models.
According to Banerjee, nearly 56 per cent of companies in Bangalore plan for hybrid work in the future, and 75 per cent of the professionals prefer it. His insights towards the shifting to remote or hybrid work reflected the flexibility employees now expect. Banerjee also noted that 29 per cent of employees would consider leaving if their roles reverted to full office-based work, which is why this indicates how integral work-from-home flexibility has become in retaining talent.
High cost of living
As the cost of living in Bangalore rises, professionals are highly pressured to work harder so that they can sustain a comfortable lifestyle. The real estate book, expensive education, along with lifestyle inflation creates a need for higher incomes, which leads to much overwork in hopes of securing promotions and raises. As per reports, it will cost you nearly 50,000 to 60,000 Indian rupees for each individual to live a comfortable life in Bangalore. Moreover, this might differ based on your lifestyle, preferences, location, and other needs.
Peer pressure and corporate culture
Peer pressure is something that is a common issue in schools and colleges in Bangalore and can have a severe influence on students’ mental, social, and educational development. A study conducted by the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, where it was found that peer pressure was a big risk factor for substance abuse among adolescents in the city. More than 3.5 million people in Bangalore are serving in the IT and IT-enabled services or BPM sectors in the city. Bangalore has been referred to as the city for professionals to work in. The majority of the IT workforce is large enough to support the IT team of many of the largest companies.
Traffic woes and long commutes
A most talked about issue in Bangalore is its traffic congestion, a result of a disconnection between land use and transport planning for over the past 40 years. The city holds the title of the most congested city in India. According to the TomTom traffic index, Bangalore ranges the sixth with an average travel time of 28 minutes and 10 seconds.
Long commutes extend up to two hours one way, eat into personal time, and it leave very little room for relaxation for individuals. Professionals, due to this, prefer to extend their work hours to make up for the time lost in traffic. They also resort to working during their commute, which is why this to the feeling of being engaged in work.
Co-working spaces and the start-up culture
Bangalore’s co-working spaces have become promising to its start-up culture. Co-working spaces offer flexibility, cost-effectiveness, and collaborative environments for entrepreneurs and freelancers. These spaces appeal to startups with their range of flexible memberships from day passes to monthly plans, catering to the needs of new businesses without high costs and long commitments to traditional office leases.
Amenities in these spaces, like high-speed internet, meeting rooms, and wellness facilities, are found comfortable by the professionals. These amenities help small businesses stay productive without investing in expensive infrastructure.
How is being a workaholic affecting you?
Professionals find working the majority of the time from the day productive, and they feel a sense of achievement towards professional goals. However, one must not forget that working for hours contributes to both work stress as well as psychological stress. According to the World Health Organisation, working 55 or more hours every week increases the chances of stroke by 35 per cent and the risk of dying by 17 per cent. Anna Sebastian Perayil, the 26-year-old employee at EY’s Pune office, died because of work-related stress. Such losses show that it is high time for you to become aware of your work hours and health, too.
FAQ
1. Why is Bangalore often referred to as the Silicon Valley of India?
Bangalore, now called Bengaluru, is known as the Silicon Valley of India because it hosts a significant number of tech companies and startups, including major players like Infosys, Wipro, and newer firms like Swiggy and Zerodha.
2. How does Bangalore’s traffic congestion contribute to workaholism?
Long commutes, sometimes extending up to two hours one way, often lead professionals to work during travel or stay late at work, reducing time for relaxation and personal life.
3. What role does tech company culture play in Bangalore’s workaholic tendencies?
The competitive environment in tech firms encourages long hours and intense workloads, pushing employees to work harder to meet high expectations and stay ahead in their careers.
4. How have remote and hybrid work models influenced Bangalore’s work culture?
Remote and hybrid setups, popularized during the pandemic, blur personal and professional boundaries. Professionals often work late to coordinate with global teams, fostering an “always-on” mentality.
5. Why is the cost of living in Bangalore making people work harder?
Rising costs in real estate, education, and lifestyle expenses prompt professionals to work more to sustain a comfortable lifestyle, often pushing them toward overworking for promotions or raises.
6. What impact does peer pressure have on Bangalore’s workforce?
Peer pressure, common even from school years, often translates into competitive work environments where employees feel compelled to work longer hours to keep pace with their colleagues.
7. How are productivity tools contributing to Bangalore’s work-life balance challenges?
Tools like Slack, Microsoft Teams, and Zoom, while enhancing productivity, also allow work to spill into personal time, making it harder for professionals to disconnect and maintain balance.
8. Why are co-working spaces popular among Bangalore’s startups?
Co-working spaces offer flexibility, cost savings, and networking opportunities, making them attractive to startups and freelancers who prefer collaborative environments without high overhead costs.
9. What health risks are associated with Bangalore’s workaholic culture?
According to the WHO, working 55 or more hours weekly increases risks of stroke by 35% and mortality by 17%, stressing the need for work-life balance in such a high-pressure environment.
10. Is workaholism affecting productivity in Bangalore?
While workaholism can initially boost productivity, excessive work hours lead to burnout, stress, and reduced overall health, ultimately impacting long-term productivity negatively.
