The Tox-Sick Work Culture

Recently, I was Googling something related to my personal projects & work culture, when suddenly my eyes and the mouse cursor came across a few keywords on “Toxic work culture”, “Unpaid labors”, “Working 70-hours a week”, “OLA & Bhavish Aggarwal”, and as always, being the curious reader I am, I paused and clicked to read about it. Now, I could rattle off the statistics and data written in the article about workplace environments and toxic cultures, but this time, I realized something much deeper—the unsettling future hidden behind the glorified label of the "hard-working Gen Z." Beneath these numbers lie countless unspoken words and dreams, often given as little attention as students' mental health is today.

“Gone are the days when work was fun”— this sentiment we’ve all heard, perhaps even said ourselves (secretly). We nod in agreement, that in the old golden age, there was “less competition” or it was a “pre-digital age,” but we’re missing the point. That might be true to a certain extent, but was everyone in that era very well-compensated? Were there no personal struggles in the lives of individuals? Were people financially secure?

The answer is a simple "No"

Because in that era, even while digitization was like a distant dream and messenger pigeons were the norm, people at least remembered the time they spent with their families, and loved ones and celebrated even the smallest of achievements! Secondly, there were no “NUMBERS” dominating people’s happiness quotient. Enjoying celebrations was much more important than a salary hike and personal satisfaction mattered more than people-pleasing, grilling was just at the wood shops and not on people's lives.

Then what changed? From the Industrial Revolution to Technical Evolution, we have evolved a lot artificially, but between those newspaper headlines of “India by 2026”, “1.6Bn $ economy” and more, there are countless hard-working individuals with voices to speak, yet no one is there to listen.

Imagine dedicating 12 hours of your 24-hour day, every day, pouring all your energy, passion, and soul into your work. But instead of fulfillment, some days all you’re left with are exhaustion, burnout, and a sense of emptiness. Stress begins to weigh you down, and depression creeps in, slowly erasing the joy you once found in life. Sounds familiar?

At the end of the day, what’s the true worth of those shiny titles and promotions? They may look impressive on paper and seem like steps toward a brighter future, but what about your present? The prestige and accolades may give temporary satisfaction, but can they replace the peace and happiness that get lost along the way?

Ask yourself - Is it worth it to chase after recognition at the cost of your health, your relationships, and your inner peace? What’s the point of these so-called “titles” if they come at the expense of what truly matters to YOU? Endless hours, fewer breaks, working weekends, no time for rest, poor health support, office politics, and toxic leadership—these aren't just some random minor inconveniences. They’re the cries of a system that’s failing its roots – its people, a system in urgent need of change. The constant over-glorification of hustle culture needs to stop. It’s time we face the heartbreaking reality of the human toll this relentless chase for success is taking. A balance is all we need between everything. We must recognize the price we’re paying—burnt-out souls, broken spirits, and lives unraveling—and ask ourselves: Is this the future we want to build?