88% of Indians are Contacted by Bosses After Hours. Should You Always Be Available?

Imagine you’ve just come home after a long and tiring day at work. You sit there, sipping on a hot cup of tea, all set to unwind when your phone buzzes. This time, it’s your boss calling you for something. It’s not an incident taking place once in a while. It is a rampant practice. According to a recently conducted survey by Indeed, a job portal, 88% of Indian employees reported that their employers contacted them outside of working hours.

You likely consider this an incident that occasionally occurs. Well, this is a common occurrence for most people, even when they are on sick leave. 85% claim they are approached during these events as well. So, let’s dig a little deeper and analyze why this is happening, who might be impacted, and what we might have to consider.

What’s Going On?

Never have people been as connected as they are today. Mobile phones, emails, and messaging apps just don’t let anyone leave the workplace while technically they would be off the clock. It seems that some companies would have you believe that because you can be reached, you should always be available, which puts a lot of pressure on employees to keep things together at any place or do something at any time.

There is a kind of unwritten rule of life in the fast environment of work in India: if you don’t pay attention to that message, you may face troubles later on; either you are overlooked for that promotion you seek, or your reputation may be lost. Such a fear keeps the worker glued to his mobile, even when he should not be working at the given point of time.

It reveals that 79% of workers fear it will expose their careers if they don’t react to these messages after hours. And that is a pretty big deal.

Why Is This?

It is by no means an easy problem. Instead, it’s a proliferation of expectations, pressure, and technology.

There is this old-fashioned mindset in many companies, if you are dedicated, you never say no. It is almost some sort of unspoken loyalty test. Some managers believe that if they can reach you at any time, then it means that you are committed to what you do.

However, the companies are on deadlines and struggling to compete in all the new competitive arenas. The employees feel that their employers do not have a choice but to reach out to them outside of work to get things done on time. And let’s face it; Reach someone easier now than ever—there is no need to wait until Monday to get in touch with a colleague. Send a quick message, and they’ll see it right away. The ease of communication tempts employers to shoot off an email or a WhatsApp message anytime.

There are cultural factors in a country like India. There is always the pressure to deliver that one bit extra, sometimes at a personal time cost. The employees often feel that they must be reachable at all hours and that their operations must succeed, but work and personal time are very much blurred.

Generational Differences

Interestingly, how people feel about this ongoing connectivity depends greatly on their age.

Baby Boomers- Individuals born roughly between 1946 and 1964.

Many of the older-generation workers seem okay with it. Results from the survey indicate that 88% of baby boomers feel valued when contacted after work. Perhaps this is the way one perceives trust or at least seriousness. They come from a generation in which loyalty and commitment to the company meant that you were always available. This doesn’t necessarily mean they like it, but it does coincide with the culture in which they grew up.

Gen Z, more commonly termed Gen C (about born 1997-2012)

However, this age group, especially Gen Z, looks at it differently. They find work is not the end. 63% of the workforce Gen Z believes they would quit their job if their employer does not honor the right to disconnection. They place more significance on their time and do not hesitate to speak of it. They are pushing against the idea that you must be constantly available to succeed at work.

It is here that things get rather interesting. There is a growing awareness about mental health and wellbeing and the call for a proper work-life balance. Indeed, the younger workforce is quite vocal about these issues and unwilling to sacrifice personal time for the job.

The Mental Toll and Personal Life Consequences of Being on Call

It is not just frustrating to be constantly on someone’s call. It does take such a severe mental toll on people’s lives.

There is, at times, the feeling that the employee never really gets to shut off. They never stop being on edge, waiting for that call from work or that email. Over time, chronic stress and anxiety can occur. Employees feel they cannot switch off; this pressure of needing to stay connected gets on their nerves.

Burnout is when a person gets completely drained – emotionally, physically, and mentally. It is caused by prolonged stress, and it has become common in society today, as many can no longer cope with work requirements. When people continue working outside office hours, they have no time to rejuvenate and eventually create full burnout which compelled one to quit his job or else live long.

This concept of work-life balance makes life easy in its simplest form. You should know well when you are working and when you are at home. But things have become contrary for most employees, as they are finding themselves at work even during their time. This is affecting their relationship with friends and family members, is no longer allowing free time for hobbies, and is negatively impacting health.

Is This Right or Wrong?

Is it proper for employers to contact employees outside of work hours? That is a tricky question. Some arguments stand both ways.

The View of the Employer

From the employer’s viewpoint, sometimes contacting employees outside work hours seems essential. Perhaps there is a deadline or something important that needs to be addressed right away. There may not be a choice but to wait for the next working day to approach the matter under discussion.

Most companies are now coming to the realization that pushing employees too hard will work against them in the long run. Overworked and burnt-out employees can never get anything done properly or efficiently and do not even stick around to the company. In the long run, this costs the company much more than it would have had it respected the personal time of its employees in the very first place.

Constant contact outside working hours is extremely exhausting for most employees. It can be psychologically straining for them to feel that they are in a situation from which it seems there is no exit but into more work-related activities. Of course, some employees wouldn’t mind having a few calls after working hours, but most would like clear distinction between their working time and personal time.

To resolve such problems, many professionals are demanding something called the “right to disconnect.” This concept means that workers can ignore messages related to work once off-duty without any fear of repercussions.

Interestingly, 80% of all those employers surveyed support this concept. They realize providing breaks to their employees to unplug and recharge benefits them too. In fact, an employee is more productive and enthusiastic than one who cannot get some rest from work.

What Can Be Done?

Companies should then communicate clearly when the boss can call them after work. By doing so, it is clear when to call and when not to call the employee. For example, one may need to treat some serious issues that cannot wait until work hours, but in most cases, one can wait until work time.

If the employees are working overtime, then they must be paid for overtime. The overtime pay, off time, or other benefits can be rewards as a recognition of extra efforts they take.

Companies with a balance between their working and personal life are likely to secure high-skilled performers and retain them. The reason is that the employee desires to be in workplaces that respect off-job time, and companies that disregard this are doomed to lose.

Employers have to work with employees suffering from stress and burnout; therefore, they need to provide resources and support for them. This may involve counseling or mental health days, making it a supportive environment in the workplace such that people can comfortably discuss their mental health.

The survey highlights a clear picture– the increasing line between work and personal life is taking its toll on the employees. While some may say after-hour communication is showing dedication to work, for most people, it’s a source of stress and anxiety. And the cure to the problem stems from balance. Employers should respect private time while work gets done efficiently.

The more the conversation over mental health and wellbeing grows, so does the right to disconnect. Employees need to switch off, recharge, and fully live outside of work. This is what businesses need – a healthier, more productive workforce that feels motivated, happy, and ready for whatever the modern workplace throws.

The future of work depends on whether we can capture this subtle balance between technology, productivity, and people. It doesn’t feel suitable for employees; it feels good for business.