Indian Corporate Culture is Deeply Influenced by Toxic Parenting Styles

For a shift in work culture, the change must come from home

Photo by Sean Pollock on Unsplash

The death of Anna Sebastian has ignited debates amongst India’s youngest employees and has brought corporate India’s culture of overwork, something that once used to be badge of honour, to the fore. It was once considered cool and trendy to boast off working weekends and Friday nights to your friends and office colleagues. After the pandemic, “workations” were all the rage, where one not only boasted about working weekends, but doing it at a holiday destination like a hillside or beachside resort.

Working on weekends from cafes or scenic outdoor locations was considered a badge of honour. Look at me! I’m being productive even on vacation while you’re wasting your life exercising, going on dates, socializing, and taking care of your mental health.

*Cue the Instagram post of a laptop with a mug of coffee next to it and a beach in the background.*

However, with the death of Anna Sebastian and dozens of others who have succumbed to the brutal inhumanity of India’s corporate work culture, an increasing number of Indians are waking up to the reality of corporate life, and have started questioning the deep intrusion of work into their family and personal lives, and how such practices could have…