|
Work hard, party harder
Long working hours are quite the norm these days and the Karma Kola generation is getting used to it so long as they can enjoy a good life, finds Ritusmita Biswas
This is a generation that is chasing a dream. Interestingly, they are not afraid to pay the price for it. Work is what their life revolves around and they are cool about it as long as their monthly pay packet is enough to buy them their dreams- or what they think fulfill their dreams.
You will find them in almost every sector of Indian economy today, be it the BPO, advertising, software development, media or entertainment. These new workaholics have readjusted their biological clock as per the demands of their work schedule and seem to be quite savvy about it. Says Kanupriya Goenka, a call centre executive based in New Delhi: "I work in night shifts and am pretty cool about staying awake the whole night. In fact, even on off days I find it difficult to sleep during nights." Initially her mother was disturbed over her staying away the whole night at work and worried that she would fall sick. "But as most of my friends are in call centres and follow this schedule today she has well adjusted to the situation," she claims.
But how far do erratic work hours affect sleep patterns? Says Dr Amitava Banerjee of Kolkata, "In the long run the effects are disastrous. Stress is an obvious outcome and several other lifestyle diseases follow it on the heels."
"But where's the choice?" counters ad executive Sanatanu Paine, adding, " Almost everyone is doing the same so and so we are left with no alternative; we have to adjust to long and erratic work hours if we are to stay in the job market,". The interesting point is that despite the long working hours these young people are not cribbing. "Yes, we do have social life and we do enjoy. My colleagues are my best friends and often after late work hours we gang up and go to a disco or some pub," says Vandana, 23, with a call centre in Kolkata.
If you have a will you have a way, believes Chennai based homemaker Bharati Acharya. Bharati who is a researcher with a leading market research agency, maintains a tight schedule with numerous deadlines. "I have to get up at 4 am six days a week to prepare food for the family and the kids before I leave for office at 7.30 am. I am back by 9 pm every evening and then look after dinner, homework and sundry other things. Of course I am tired, but when I think my working will ensure my kids a better future I prod on," she says.
The revolution in communication has further been instrumental in lengthening the work hours. There has been a paradigm shift in working styles that have made location of work irrelevant. Global companies are not keen on conventional mode of working; laptops, broadband connectivity, Blackberrys and smart phones allow professionals to work from any where, anytime. Flexibility is the norm and now since you can work from every where you are on back and call 24 hours. "This is a common occurrence with me. Just when I plan to relax in the evening with a drink, my boss sends me an SMS to check my mail and reply back to the client and I am back to work again," says Rajat, a marketing executive in Delhi.
His boss Sneha Juneja agrees. "Eight hour work days are seriously retro. In this globalised era, you need to work more. There is no choice," she says. In this competitive market even a starter needs to put 10-12 hours if he needs to keep his career graph soaring, she points out.
The globalised Indian work force that operates in different time zones has, in fact, no choice but to work round the hour. Kolkata based E-tutor Sonali Majumdar starts coaching her students as early as 4 am in the morning. "I have to do it as it is evening and their study time, so my schedule is adjusted accordingly," she says.
A recent survey points out that every fourth employed Indian works more than 16 hours per day and his/her life revolves around the work. Besides, today the young Indian refuses to climb up the career ladder in a measured pace but is keen to sprint up the rungs. What motivates them to work and still be happy after such erratic and long hours?
Most of them agree that money is a factor but not the only one. "I enjoy the adrenaline pumping pace of work. Salaries can never be the ultimate objective as to do well you need to be passionate and no one can put a value on passion," says Maya Goenka, a media professional.
So long hours for professionals are here to stay, it seems. And not many are cribbing.
|
 |
|
