Workers in India have found that the stress of being oursourced labor is often more than they bargained:
As many young people in India’s outsourcing industry are beginning to discover, underneath the heady promise of an exciting job, a good paycheck and attractive career prospects lie long spells of night shifts, ruthless targets and the dreadful monotony of writing code or pacifying angry customers.
The outsourcing industry has long been hailed as a key driver to India’s rise as a global economic power. Now, that growth is beginning to take its toll on its workers who labour for long hours in stressful work environments to meet tight deadlines for customers thousands of miles away.
Workers are suffering from obesity, sleep disorders, depression and broken relationships - problems which can lead to more serious conditions such as diabetes or heart disease. In a country where a public healthcare system is virtually non-existent, overworked outsourcing employees could present a health crisis in the making.
I imagine to some of us it sounds very familiar….
August 26th, 2009 at 8:29 pm
So in addition to exporting our jobs and work, we have exported Chronic Cubicle Syndrome
Unfortunately:
“During the weekends, to relieve a week’s pressure at work and to keep up with peers, they often indulge in chain smoking and binge drinking.”
Like many young IT workers in this country that burn out too early, the workers in India need to learn moderation in both work and home as a way to a healthy life.
August 27th, 2009 at 4:05 am
Along with the outsourcing woes, the lack of healthcare is sad too….