In an economy that has long celebrated technical prowess and rapid innovation, Indian corporations are now confronting a profound quality of work life (QWL) crisis, discovering that technical brilliance alone is insufficient to build a thriving enterprise.
Despite the nation’s relentless drive for efficiency, recent evidence points to a systemic failure in protecting workers’ psychological safety and dignity. Reports from Feminist Policy India (2024) document how relentless performance pressures in the banking, financial services and investment (BFSI) sector — widely regarded as one of the most demanding industries — have led to a significant surge in employee suicides, with analyses suggesting these incidents are up to 30 per cent higher compared to sectors such as IT, manufacturing, and services.
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About 18 months ago, the Delhi High Court characterised deaths induced by toxic work environments as a “social problem,” highlighting an urgent need for reform. Studies indicate that 36 per cent of Indian employees experience mental health challenges, and up to 75 per cent report workplace toxicity, emphasising that the crisis extends far beyond issues of wages or working hours.
At its core, QWL demands not only fair compensation and regulated hours but also a nurturing work environment free from overwork, bullying, and discrimination. In response, a growing chorus of industry leaders and policymakers are advocating for the integration of Social Emotional Learning (SEL) into corporate training. SEL programmes, which enhance self-awareness, empathy, and relationship skills, have been shown by institutions such as the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL) to significantly boost productivity and reduce employee attrition when workers feel valued and respected.
This evidence-based approach provides a clear roadmap for reform, urging a shift from the outdated model of endless hours and unrealistic expectations to one that fosters psychological well-being and sustainable performance. Moreover, while India produces approximately 1.5 million engineering graduates each year, a survey by the National Association of Software and Service Companies (NASSCOM) reveals that only about 20 per cent are truly employable in high-skill roles due largely to deficiencies in soft skills. As reports from the World Economic Forum and McKinsey confirm, competencies such as empathy, conflict resolution, and decision-making are now critical for the future of work.
Strategic partnerships
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India’s National Skill Development Policy must evolve from merely equipping workers with task-specific technical abilities to fostering an environment where they can truly thrive. Traditional programmes have concentrated on hard skills while overlooking essential soft skills — such as communication, conflict resolution, and emotional intelligence — that are vital in modern, high-pressure workplaces.
Policymakers must mandate comprehensive soft skills training across all sectors by embedding modules on emotional intelligence and teamwork into both educational and professional curricula. Additionally, establishing a national Quality of Work Life (QWL) Index — administered by a dedicated authority or in collaboration with a credible NGO or think tank — could transform the landscape by scoring medium and large organisations on key well-being parameters like average working hours, wage fairness, mental health resources, attrition rates, and harassment complaint outcomes, rewarding high performers and unifying Centre-state practices under common national standards without requiring new legislation.
Moreover, harnessing public-private partnerships and digital platforms will be key. Policymakers should mandate the use of e-learning platforms such as Swayam and Diksha to fully leverage the standardised courses in SEL. This mandate would create a nationwide network of skill hubs that transcend geographical boundaries, ensuring that every worker has access to essential soft skills training regardless of location.
Toxic workplaces and corporate performance
From an economic perspective, the soft skills gap is not merely a human capital issue — it also represents a significant drag on GDP growth. Research indicates that workplace toxicity significantly undermines productivity; studies show that when employees are subjected to persistent bullying and unrealistic performance pressures, absenteeism rises, turnover escalates, and overall operational efficiency plummets. Enhanced soft skills lead to better decision-making, lower attrition, and higher productivity, factors that directly contribute to economic efficiency. As UNESCO Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Education for Peace and Sustainable Development (MGIEP)’s recent Inclusive Wealth Report emphasises, human capital — enhanced by non-cognitive skills like empathy and resilience — constitutes a critical component of a nation’s wealth.
A stark reminder from the 90-hour work debate
Adding urgency to the call for reform is the recent debate over the 90-hour work-week in the corporate sector, which has laid bare the unsustainable pressures that employees endure.
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Critics argue that such extreme work demands not only degrade worker well-being but also undermine productivity, as overworked employees become disengaged and prone to burnout. In a society where no job should come at the cost of one’s well-being, the time to act is now.
Given these realities, it is imperative for corporate leaders and policymakers alike to recognise that the cost of inaction is too high. Policymakers, corporate leaders, and educators must collaborate to build workplaces where technical brilliance is matched by emotional intelligence and social acumen, ensuring a healthier, more innovative, and sustainable economic future for India. As one widely-cited aphorism — often attributed to Jiddu Krishnamurti — reminds us, “It is no measure of health to be well adjusted to a profoundly sick society.”
The writer is a researcher in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) and Learning Analytics. She currently works as a UX Design consultant at the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras
