The Karnataka government’s proposal to amend existing labour laws and extend working hours in the IT, ITeS, and BPO sectors to 12 hours a day has triggered widespread criticism for potentially creating a workforce that is exhausted, anxious and emotionally depleted. Many young professionals are already surviving under a high-pressure environment that romanticises overwork and glorifies burnout as a badge of honour. The proposal to institutionalise 12-hour workdays is not just unrealistic, it is a public health issue.
In therapy rooms, I see their fatigue. Not just physical tiredness, but the emotional heaviness of constantly being measured, compared and never feeling “enough.” A 2024 report found that 90 per cent of Gen Z corporate workers feel anxious every week. This manifests in many of my sessions as panic attacks, disassociation, substance dependence and insomnia.
The brain has limits
Beyond eight hours of focused cognitive labour, your neurons aren’t firing more creatively —they’re barely hanging on. You may still be typing, attending meetings, showing up — but your capacity to think, feel, and be present is fading by the hour. And no, coffee won’t save you. Longer hours are like putting people on a treadmill where speed keeps increasing, but the destination keeps moving further away.
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At the same time, they shrink the space for family time, sleep, movement and everything that makes a person whole. They rob people of Sunday afternoon naps, of evening walks with ageing parents, of stories read to sleepy children, of uninterrupted silence with oneself.
What burnout feels like
Clinical psychology defines burnout as more than being “tired.” It’s the slow bleed of your motivation, compassion and clarity. It shows up as you crying in the shower but showing up to Zoom smiling. Your body is aching but your calendar is still full. You feel guilty of wanting a life beyond your job. Twelve-hour workdays institutionalise this quiet suffering. My patients complain of extreme fatigue, mood swings, susceptibility to frequent bouts of illness, changes in appetite and weight, cynicism and negative outlook. What is disturbing is a sense of feeling distant and disconnected from others and from life in general. Many patients report procrastination, putting off tasks and neglecting responsibilities, which in turn impact their productivity. In extreme cases, patients resort to alcohol and drugs for solace.
What long working hours do to your health
Other than the work hours, add two hours of commute time in a city like Bengaluru through congested traffic and crunching sleep, family time and recreation in about an eight to ten-hour window, often interrupted by work calls. Zero physical activity.
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The excess adrenaline affects cardiovascular health. Stress hormones constrict the heart arteries, reducing blood flow, increasing inflammation and dislodging plaques that block vessels. Inflammation also accelerates levels of blood sugar, cholesterol and triglycerides. Stress thickens the blood as platelets aggregate. No exercise means weight gain.
A Lancet study has shown that individuals who worked more than 55 hours per week had a 13 per cent increased risk of developing heart disease compared to those who worked standard hours. A work-life balance needs an enabling environment that is not just self-created but needs a systemic approach.
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