Former WHO Chief Scientist Advises Listening to the Body to Avoid Burnout
Prolonged periods of intense work are unsustainable and can lead to burnout and reduced productivity, cautioned former World Health Organization (WHO) chief scientist and current Health Ministry advisor, Soumya Swaminathan. In a recent interview, Swaminathan highlighted the importance of listening to one's body to recognize the need for rest and recovery.
While short bursts of intensive work are feasible—as demonstrated during the COVID-19 pandemic—such practices cannot be sustained indefinitely without adverse effects, she explained. "You can really work hard, let's say for a few months. During COVID, we all did that, right? But could we have continued that for years together? I am not sure," Swaminathan stated.
Burnout Experienced by Healthcare Professionals During Pandemic
Recalling the challenges faced by healthcare workers during the pandemic, Swaminathan pointed out that many professionals were working around the clock, experiencing significant stress and minimal sleep. This led to burnout, causing several individuals to eventually leave their professions altogether.
"For those two-three years, we did it. We did not sleep much. We were stressed most of the time, worrying about things, especially the healthcare providers. There was some burnout. Many people left the profession also after that. But it can be done for short sprints; however, it is not really sustainable," she said.
Quality of Work More Important than Hours Spent
Swaminathan, who previously served as Director-General of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), emphasized that productivity is not merely determined by the number of hours spent at work, but rather by the quality of work performed within that timeframe.
"You can sit at your table for 12 hours, but maybe after eight hours, you are not doing that good quality work," she added. "So, I think all those things also have to be looked at."
Recent Calls for Increased Work Hours Spark Debate
Swaminathan's remarks come in the wake of recent statements by prominent Indian business leaders advocating extended working hours. Larsen & Toubro (L&T) Chairman S N Subrahmanyan recently ignited controversy by suggesting a 90-hour workweek, including Sundays. Similarly, Infosys Co-founder Narayana Murthy had earlier proposed a 70-hour workweek.
Adding to this discourse, former Niti Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant, speaking at Business Standard’s Manthan summit, urged Indians to significantly increase their working hours if the nation aims to reach the ambitious target of becoming a USD 30 trillion economy by 2047.
"I strongly believe in hard work. Indians must work hard, whether it is 80 hours or 90 hours a week. If your ambition is to move from a USD 4 trillion to a USD 30 trillion economy, you cannot do it through entertainment or by following the views of some film stars," Kant said.
Government Clarifies No Plan to Extend Workweek
Amid ongoing discussions on extended work hours, Union Minister of State for Labour and Employment Shobha Karandlaje clarified last month that the government has no plans to revise the maximum weekly working hours to 70 or 90 hours.
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