Namita Thapar Challenges IT Sector: Boost Productivity, Not Hours!
The dialogue about work culture in the IT industry is shifting, thanks to a compelling message from Namita Thapar, a renowned judge from Shark Tank India. In a bold statement on X (formerly known as Twitter), Thapar addressed a pertinent issue affecting the IT sector: the need to focus on increasing productivity rather than just lengthening work hours.
The Problem with Extended Hours
Thapar shared statistics from The Economic Times, revealing that despite IT companies achieving record profits, employees’ real monthly wages from 2023 to 2024 remain lower than those noted in 2017-18. This finding highlights a critical gap between corporate earnings and worker compensations.
A Push for Productivity
This move underscores an urgent call to action: shifting corporate focus from merely adding hours to achieving higher per-employee output and improved compensation. In her post, Thapar argued that sustainable work practices can bridge this gap, emphasizing the importance of elevating efficiency rather than extending shifts.
Aligning with Past Advocacy
Thapar’s comments extend her previous critique from December 2024 of the 70-hour workweek, which she described as “unsustainable” and “detrimental” to employees’ physical and mental wellbeing. Her advocacy reinforces the unjust nature of imposing founder-level work expectations on salaried employees lacking equity stakes.
Health and Happiness at Stake
As Thapar highlights, demanding excessive hours without proportional benefits can lead to severe consequences such as health disorders and family neglect. This, she notes, results in widespread dissatisfaction and burnout, an alarming trend within the industry.
Current Work Hours and Productivity Concerns
Despite Indian IT employees working 45-50 hours weekly, beating the typical 40-hour benchmark, productivity gains remain slim. The troubling decrease in revenue per employee for major firms like TCS, Wipro, and HCLTech over five years echoes her urgent call to re-evaluate work ethics.
The Global Work-Life Balance Perspective
A 2023 report showed 58% of the IT workforce rated their work-life balance as average or poor, far exceeding the global average of 40%. This discrepancy is a clear indicator that the industry must address foundational work culture issues to better support employees.
A Call for Change
Namita Thapar’s statements resonate with many, urging the IT sector to prioritize meaningful work developments over incremental work hours. This shift not only promises increased productivity but also aims to foster a healthier and more balanced workplace environment for India’s thriving technology workforce.
According to Indian Startup News, it’s time for a change in how we perceive and manage productivity in the IT industry.
