Zoho CEO Sridhar Vembu Warns Against Toxic Work Culture, ‘Stop Burning Out Employees’ He Says

The recent deaths of young corporate employees due to excessive work pressure have shaken India’s business world. In the wake of these tragedies, Zoho’s CEO, Sridhar Vembu, has made a powerful call for change in how companies approach employee well-being. His statements come just days after a young employee at Ernst & Young passed away, reportedly due to immense work stress, and another disturbing incident of a Bajaj Finance employee dying by suicide due to toxic work culture emerged.

Sridhar Vembu, in an interview, expressed deep concern about the growing pressures Indian employees face today, especially in large cities. He highlighted how the demanding corporate culture is pushing people to their breaking point, reported Business Standard.

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“You are throwing people into a very big pressure cooker, and tragically, some break, and others are broken. I have been around 27-28 years, and I want to work another 28 years if possible, but that means I cannot burn myself out. I don’t want any of our people to burn themselves out,” he said, reported Moneycontrol.

Vembu didn’t hold back in describing how toxic workplace environments are taking a toll on mental health. He pointed to the high levels of burnout employees experience and the emotional isolation many face when they move from small towns to big cities for work. According to Vembu, these young professionals often feel lonely and stressed, trying to keep up with the demands of their jobs. Add long commutes in cities like Bengaluru, and the pressure becomes unbearable.

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“We are bringing young people from various places, smaller towns into big cities… The first problem is, of course, loneliness. They come into the workforce, lonely,” he added.

Vembu suggests that one way to reduce this pressure is by decentralizing work opportunities. Instead of concentrating jobs only in big cities, companies should look to expand into smaller towns. This would help reduce the burden on employees who are currently struggling with long commutes and the stressful environments of metropolitan areas.

“Every activity should not be at one place,” Vembu explained.

In a time where workplace stress is claiming lives, Vembu’s call for change couldn’t be more relevant.

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