For decades, Indian employees have powered through stress, anxiety, and burnout under the weight of a culture that glorifies overwork. But a quiet revolution may be on the horizon, inspired by a daring experiment in China. Earlier this year, South China Morning Post reported that Pang Dong Lai, a retail company in Henan, introduced “Unhappy Leave”—10 days off per year, no explanations required, simply because employees didn’t feel happy enough to work. The news, also covered by Money control and Business Standard, sparked a global debate about the future of humane work policies.
A Spark that Resonates in India
References
- LinkedIn India Workforce Confidence Index (2022): 1 in 3 Indian professionals report stress at work.
All the views and opinions expressed are those of the author. Image Credit: The Economic Times.
About the Author
Dr. Soummya Chowdhury is an Assistant Professor at the School of Business, GITAM (Deemed to be University), Hyderabad campus, specialising in Marketing. He holds a Ph.D. in Integrated Marketing Communication (IMC) and Luxury Retail, along with an M.Com in Marketing & International Business and a Postgraduate Diploma in HRM, Services, and Labour Laws from Banaras Hindu University. His research interests include Luxury Retail, AI, Digital Marketing, Omni-channel strategies, and innovation in marketing ecosystems. Dr. Chowdhury is also passionate about social issues, the impact of social media, and the intersection of mythology and modern marketing.
