IT company WFH and working for 16 hrs every day. Their mental and physical health has worsened

My friends and cousins are working in IT companies, they are doing WFH and working for 16 hrs every day. Their mental and physical health has worsened. Is there any policy or any other way to get out of this?

Dear Karthik,

Work in IT companies is projected based. Therefore, when the project they have to work extra and when the project is not there they have a lean period. Even during the project also not necessarily on all the days, the software professionals have to work extra. 
Extra working hours may not have anything to do with Work From Home (WFH). Possibly they would have required to put up extra hours even though they had worked from the office.

One needs to study as to why the employees put up extra work. Nevertheless, not in IT companies, such analysis is done. For them the meeting deadline is important. They do not do any analysis on what was the assigned number of hours and how many were actually put up. This analysis is not done as they are not required to pay the overtime (OT) to their employees. 

Working for 16 hours a day and that too for the many weeks or even months is certainly not easy. Those who put up such voluminous hours they would know best as to where they are going wrong.

Nevertheless, discreetly they can raise this point with their superiors on the extra hours. However, once again I state to raise this point discreetly. The seniors should not misunderstand the person raising this query should not get into bad books of the seniors.

Partially the blame can be laid at the doorstep of the Government of Karnataka also. The government has exempted IT industry from Industrial Standing Orders Act, 1946. The exemption has curtailed the rights of the IT works and they are paying the price by way of extra hours. 

Thanks,

Dinesh Divekar

Due to Corona lockdown this new wfh concept popularised and covered to all ITEs.previously it was in few employees only. Now to all.

Ok when come to working hrs Employees are not clearly forced or ordered by the company.it only directs the completion of the project like a contract.

So there was no bindover by company.

But only asking point is

IF THE COMPANY ASKS OR CHECKS THE EMPLOYEES TO BE LIVE ONLINE. FOR MORE THAN 8 HOURS .IN THIS CASE 16HOURS CONTINOUSLY ...LIKE THIS

HEY WHERE ARE YOU MAN ? COME TO MEETING .AND THAT CONFERENCE ENDS LIKE 16,HOURS DAILY ON WORK PROGRESS.

OR IN ANYWAY IF THE COMPANY MONITERING ITS EMPLOYEES TO BE ONLINE WITH WORK COMPLETION MORE THAN 8 HOURS IS OFFENSIVE ON THE EXISTING LAW OF THE LAND EXCLUSIVELY LABOUR LAWS IF THERE IS ANY STATE GOVT's .EXEMPTIONS ,EVEN THOUGH THAT ALSO COVERED (EMPLOYEES'S RIGHTS ARE DULY PROTECTED ) BY THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA FOR VIOLATION OF WORKING CONDITIONS AS ASSURED BY THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA TO ALL CITIZENS EVEN WORKING IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES SPONSORED SERVICES OF THE EMPLOYEES BY INDIAN COMPANIES..

THAT'S WHY ALL THESE

IT COMPANIES ARE FACING CIVILCOMPLAINT CASES IN THE PUBLIC COURTS.RECENTLY COGNIGENT ...AND OTHER ITs FOR NOT GIVING SALARY AND REMOVING JOBS AND ON FAILURED PAYSCALES SEVERAL PILs AND CHEATING CASES WERE LAUNCHED BY COMPANY EMPLOYEES IN CIVILCOURTS ON VIOLATION OF THEIR CIVILRIGHTS.

EIGHT HOURS WORKING HOURS IS ALSO MENTIONED IN CONSTITUTION OF INDIA DIRECTIVE PRINCIPLES FREEDOM OF EMPLOYEMENT .

ALL THE BEST.SIR

WFH does not mean working extra hrs.
Request your reporting manager for guidelines for WFH before start of work.
Self discipline and punctuality is important in WFH case also.
Involve senior management, HR,Admin to ensure proper work hrs and issue directives in accordance.
Make use of best digital resources to avoid disconnects.
Plan and conduct online meetings and stick to closing in time.
Communicate and complete communication with clarity, precision and time.
Most important however is work from home calls for honesty, integrity , collabration and balance in time and communication as organisation needs people and people depend on organisation and its growth for their growth.

Dear friends,

Broadly I'm in line with these observations. Whilst, WFH is happening not just now during the pandemic we are facing but earlier also. The difference is in the recent past only some had WFH arrangement (I won't call it a privilege though) specific to their circumstances. Whereas during the pandemic it has become order of the day as more and more are encouraged to WFH. There are two ways to look at it, one is positive & the other is negative. I would honestly put it, positive is more than the negative commenting on our own experience as both our son & daughter are on WFH arrangement. One of their employer in fact told them at least till end Dec. this will continue. Since major negatives are already voiced herein I have to list out looking at positives -

1) Though reporting time more or less the same, they are relaxed in getting ready for the days work, no hurry, no skipping breakfast;

2) Getting dressed up appropriately - no difference of any day or occasion, cost-cutting;

3) No squeezing/sneaking thru' traffic jams, no air/noise pollution, saving fuel, vehicle life, transit risks avoided/no injuries, cutting costs;

4) Home food, improves health. Opportunity for giving a try in the art of cooking, try new cuisine, variety of snacks on the menu of our choice;

5) Saving time in moving up&down to meet people in diff.floors, avoiding gossips;

6) Possibility of timely food or fasting as the case may be at our discretion;

7) No need to coin new excuses & alibis to say where are we and doing what;

8) Always at home, no anxiety in reaching home as early as possible, no rain no pain;

9) Proceedings, discussions can be recorded so no room for unwanted incidences;

10) Above all IC will have no complaints to inquire.

Notwithstanding the possibility of increase in domestic violence, bloated tummy, of course, prof.hazards, in the course of employment!