The New Work Culture: Hybrid, But Draining?
The pandemic made remote and hybrid work the new normal. While this flexibility sounded ideal at first, it also brought unexpected burnout — blurred boundaries, constant notifications, and back-to-back video calls.
Today, IT companies are facing a serious challenge: how do you keep productivity high without draining your team’s mental health?
The Burnout Dilemma in IT
Burnout in tech isn't new — long hours, late-night deployments, and pressure to meet agile sprint deadlines are part of the job. But in hybrid mode, these issues are amplified:
- No clear separation between work and personal life
- Employees feel they must be "always online"
- Increased Zoom fatigue and fewer meaningful breaks
- Managers find it hard to track team well-being remotely
What Are Companies Doing About It?
Top IT companies are now launching initiatives focused on employee mental wellness and sustainable productivity:
Infosys
- Offers "LiveWell@Infosys" program with yoga, therapy sessions, and wellness challenges
- Encourages “No Meeting Fridays” once a month
TCS
- Implemented “digital detox” hours — no calls or chats allowed between 1–2 PM daily
- Training managers to recognize early signs of employee fatigue
Wipro
- Launched AI-based tools that flag signs of burnout from productivity patterns
- Hosts workshops on emotional intelligence and work-life balance
Tools and Tech That Help
Interestingly, technology is also being used to solve the problems caused by tech:
- Well-being dashboards integrated into work apps
- Focus mode timers and daily screen-time trackers
- Employee feedback bots to capture anonymous concerns
- AI-generated nudges reminding users to take micro-breaks
Cultural Shifts That Matter
It’s not just about tools — attitudes are shifting too:
- Leaders now openly talk about mental health
- Employees are encouraged to decline non-urgent meetings
- Performance reviews include well-being indicators
- Internal newsletters highlight burnout recovery stories
What’s Your View?
Do you think hybrid work is more exhausting than office life?
What kind of support would help you feel less burned out in an IT job?
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