India has undergone a fascinating transformation, being an ancient civilization whose traditions have profoundly influenced the entire world. Its urban landscape has recently been undergoing a profound transformation, driven by the forces of technological advancement, inclusive recruiting, and shifting lifestyle priorities. This article by Odds96 explores the boisterous changes that have taken place, in particular following the pandemic. Then we reflect on the modern-day drivers and ramifications of the work-from-home lifestyle in India
Traditional Workplaces in India: From Roots to Modernity
The region had traditionally kept to the same tradition with the family the bedrock of occupations, each family member working together. Most families engaged in animal husbandry, agriculture, specialized crafts, arts, and pottery. Families were formed within casts and local customs which created a sense of continuity but also limited occupational mobility. The village economy was well-sustained with local craftsmen and traders serving as the backbone of communities’ livelihoods.
Eventually, many people would flock to Mumbai and Kolkata, attracted to factory jobs as industrial and clerical roles gained prominence. Then, India gained independence and its economy started exploding following the liberalization of the nation’s economy in the 1990s, as multinational IT, banking, and telecom companies moved in, creating modern office spaces equipped with cubicles where employees had to be physically present the whole day.
COVID-19
Like in other nations, the country was rocked by the pandemic, and Indian office traditions were upended overnight. Blue-collar workplaces collapsed unless they were considered essential goods while white-collar jobs adapted quickly to embrace remote work. They invested heavily in digital infrastructure, giving employees laptops and training them to use collaboration tools, such as:
- Zoom;
- Microsoft Teams;
- Slack;
- Trello;
- Google Meet.
Remote monitoring & time tracking programs were also developed. Despite the preconceptions that had prevailed before, productivity proved not to necessarily depend on being physically present on premises. Companies like TCS and Infosys announced long-term hybrid work formats.
Startups were able to cut back costs too by forgoing office spaces altogether and just having their employees work at home. Thus, the pandemic served as a testing ground that revealed to companies what the upside and downside would be if they allowed their workers to just fulfill their duties at home.
Technologies and challenges
The widespread availability of affordable broadband, 4G connectivity, and data plans has since connected even smaller cities and rural areas to the digital economy. Such a democratization of technology has enabled companies to tap into geographically diverse talent pools, allowing people from Tier 2 and 3 cities to participate in remote and hybrid work arrangements.
Unfortunately, not everything has been so rosy throughout the country. India still remains burdened by a significant digital divide. Many areas still lack reliable internet access and adequate infrastructure. Power outages and slow connectivity are regular issues that can hinder people’s ability to participate in remote work. As for urban areas, there is often not enough space in people’s homes to dedicate to home offices, so people have had to work under a great deal of distraction.
This has led to frustration among managers trying to properly track employees, despite time tracking technology being integrated, while the employees themselves suffer from more burnout than normal due to the lines between their personal and work lives becoming blurred. Given the reduced frequency of in-person interaction with colleagues, some people have felt isolated too, just as they did during the pandemic. Addressing these challenges will remain critical for the long-term proliferation of remote work.
Macroeconomic forces
There have been inspiring and fascinating forces involved in furthering the development of hybrid work since the pandemic. It is no secret that the IT sector and outsourcing industry have been wildly successful in India and inherently involve remote workers. Indeed, many foreign corporations look to India to handle their customer care and back-office operations.
However, other sectors have followed suit as well, including content creation, digital marketing, and e-commerce, where writers, designers, and marketers enjoy conducting their entire careers at home. Education is another area that has embraced remote work for teachers, trainers, and tutors alike. Healthcare as well has flourished with telemedicine services allowing doctors to consult patients remotely.
India’s remote work pioneers
IT services company HCL Technologies has been a major advocate for flexible working arrangements since long before the pandemic. Its founder Shiv Nadar has a net worth of 31 billion USD. The man, hailing from a modest village in Tamil Nadu, is an inspiring success story of what lies in wait if organizations are to harness the full capability of bright minds around the country. He had this to say about remote work:
“When you are running a business, there is a constant need to reinvent oneself. One should have the foresight to stay ahead in times of rapid change and rid ourselves of stickiness in any form in the business.”
Another Indian company that echoes this attitude is Swiggy, led by CEO Sriharsha Majety. It is currently in fierce competition with Zomato and Depto for dominance in India’s delivery sector. Their team philosophies greatly differ. Swiggy believes in a hybrid work format, and its savings have allowed it to award a 9,000-crore-rupee bonus payout to the company’s 5,000 employees.
Government efforts to facilitate remote work
The Indian government has recognized the potential of remote work as well. The Digital India Mission aims to improve penetration and digital literacy across the country. However, labor laws in India are still catching up to the realities of flexible employment. Legislation is lacking in employee rights, overtime policies, and the regulation of gig workers. Despite this, Kerala has attempted to foster remote work to reduce the migration of large waves of citizens overwhelming its IT hub Bangalore.
Global comparisons
As of 2024, 28.2% of India’s workers maintain some sort of hybrid work routine. This is in line with global trends and is slightly lower than that of Western countries. Many people point to the environmental benefits that working at home offers. Studies indicate that working at home can cut emissions by up to 54% and this was certainly evident during the COVID pandemic in India when much of the smog cleared up, revealing nice views of mountains off in the distance.
Is remote work good for India?
One of the most obvious advantages straight away is the time saved from commuting. Major cities like Mumbai, Bangalore, and Delhi are known for their long, stressful commutes with some workers spending upwards of 2-3 hours every day in traffic. People have also gained more opportunities to engage in extra work and spend more time with their families.
Another certainly undeniable benefit is the inclusivity of talent in other cities like Nagpur, Jaipur, and Pune whose residents previously had to flock to the megacities for jobs. Women have especially benefited from the flexibility of remote work, allowing them to handle child-rearing and household responsibilities while contributing to the workforce.
Of course, more face-to-face interaction can kindle greater innovation, and when it comes to sectors like manufacturing and retail, this labor model is out of the question.
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