Dear Gen Z,

You are the ‘generation of possibilities.’ As I write this, some of you are already in your first jobs. This letter is for you. You may already be asking how much of your life you will give to work.

In India’s not-so-distant past, the norm was clear. The Factories Act mandated a 48-hour, six-day work week, with overtime as an exception, not the rule. By the 1980s, many companies shifted to a five-day work week, reducing working hours to 40. Well done. But today, voices call for 70- or even 90-hour weeks across the company as the country becomes increasingly aspirational.

But the question is, do we need to work that long, and what should be our attitude to work in general and the company in particular?

Way of life

For my dad’s generation, “Work is Worship” wasn’t just a phrase but a way of life. Loyalty to an employer was sacred. Many spent 35 years with just one or two companies. They worked with integrity and grit, but even capped their work week at 50-55 hours.

Then came my generation, the one that went berserk. Ranks in school and colleges were important. We glorified work, placing career over everything else, including family and friends. Work culture became toxic, with verbal abuse flying thick and fast in high-pressure environments. Professions such as accounting, audit, medicine, law and investment banking became synonymous with extended hours. And what was the cost of this? Health deteriorated, relationships strained and personal passions withered. Early burnouts, receding hairlines and hefty paunches became the level of physical fitness. The painter in you died, and so did your desire to run the marathon for India. The result: Today, India is the global capital for lifestyle diseases.

Your generation has the best opportunity to redefine work. You have the tools for it. Today, technology has made the world borderless and remote work is a reality. You can cut out long commutes and work from home. These shifts bring flexibility, but also blur the lines between work and life.

Remember the law of nature. A day is divided into three equal parts: eight hours for work, eight hours for sleep and eight hours for everything else — time to grow, rest and simply be. Yet, there’s a toxic myth that long hours equal patriotism. Let me be clear: You’re not heading to war. You’re stepping into a workplace to earn a living and create something meaningful. Working 90 or 100 hours a week doesn’t make you a hero; it makes you burnt out.

Smart, not long

Studies tell us what common sense should be: Working longer doesn’t mean working better. A Stanford study found that productivity drops sharply after 50 hours a week. After 55 hours, additional work is practically useless. Countries like Germany and Norway understand this. They’ve adopted shorter work weeks and consistently rank higher in productivity per hour. Microsoft Japan experimented with a four-day work week and saw a 40 per cent rise in productivity. The lesson? Work smart, not long.

You already have the resources to make it happen. AI tools like ChatGPT can handle the boring work, while you shift your energy toward work that truly matters. Embrace technology to enhance efficiency rather than extend your hours. The future of work isn’t about spending endless hours at your desk; it’s about delivering meaningful results. So, don’t wear overwork like a badge of pride. Champion efficiency over exhaustion.

Spend your evenings and weekends on things that rejuvenate you. Read a book, pursue a hobby, listen to music, walk, hit the gym, or spend time with people. Unplug on vacations — leave the office mobile and laptop behind. Your well-being isn’t negotiable. Explore a second passion, stay physically and mentally fit and nurture relationships. These things will sustain you through life’s ups and downs.

Remember, no soul in that company will care for you the day you leave your job. You have a unique opportunity to learn from global best-practices.

Countries with shorter work weeks have become more productive, healthier and happier. Let’s measure success not by hours logged but by the impact we create. Let’s build workplaces that value creativity, good health and sustainability as much as profits.

This is your moment. Use technology, question toxic myths and do what truly matters. Get up and show that a workplace is one where work serves life — not vice versa. The power to create this change lies in your hands.

With hope and belief in you,

- V Pattabhi Ram

The writer is a CA, and co-author of the book, ‘India in 2047: The Amazing Rise of a Modern Nation’

Published on January 20, 2025