Burnout on the rise: Is 9-to-5 work culture making a comeback?

I joined a popular media house right after finishing my Master's in journalism in the 2000s. Long work hours, late night shifts; it was the adrenaline rush that kept me (and many others) going. Work burnout didn’t matter on those days. There was always the urge to do more. That was then. Fast-forward to 2025, things are unfolding in unexpected ways.

The recent news of Bollywood actor Deepika Padukone being called out for signing on the dotted line and later walking out of director Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s latest movie has got everyone talking. If reports are to be believed, the fallout happened after Padukone asked for an eight-hour work shift as she is a new mother, a hefty pay cheque, and refused to dub Telugu dialogues for the movie. This, in many ways, is resonating across boardrooms that question the need for hybrid work. The term sounds “flexible”, but in reality the lines are blurred and employees end up working more than what they signed up for.

Recommended For You

US Senate advances bill to end federal shutdown, fund government till January end

Abhishek Bachchan mourns loss of his makeup artist Ashok Sawant

AUS filmmaker's 'Halal Dreams' heads to New York Short Film Festival

Tunisian star Jabeur announces pregnancy, takes break from tennis

Ben Sulayem, Macron reaffirm partnership between France and FIA

 

Should  workplaces reconsider the working format and shouldn’t personal life be respected by organisations beyond work hours? Isn’t an eight-hour work culture the need of the hour? Wknd. spoke to some key voices to hear their thoughts on the matter.

Stay up to date with the latest news. Follow KT on WhatsApp Channels.

According to a study by the World Health Organisation, working 55 or more hours per week is associated with a 35 per cent higher risk of a stroke and a 17 per cent higher risk of dying from ischemic heart disease, compared to working 35-40 hours a week. 

What this means is, the trend of working long hours puts more people at risk of work-related disability and early death.

The report, naturally, opened up a can of worms on social media with many supporting the idea of capping daily work timings at eight hours. 

Post Covid-19, the focus was on a hybrid work culture, which came with a lack of clarity, especially with regard to “flexibility”. Now things have changed drastically with more voices coming to the forefront. “How are you going to put energy back to work if you don’t go back home to replenish?” Padukone said in one of her interviews.

The demand for shorter sustainable work hours across industries — from the creative to the corporate sector — is what’s needed. Amrita Kumar, vice-president and head of marketing of real estate firm Isprava, Mumbai, says: “I believe what we’re witnessing is a reset. The glorification of being perpetually busy and the hustle that goes with it is losing its sheen. In its place, there’s a growing need for structure, boundaries, and a more intentional relationship with work. Hybrid and remote models continue to exist, but increasingly, I feel, professionals are choosing the clarity of a defined workday and work timings. The appeal of the nine-to-five lies in its simplicity: show up, do your work, and then switch off. This shift is being driven largely by mental health realities. Burnout is real, especially after the last few years. As a result, people across industries are prioritising balance and intentional living.” The return of the nine-to-five is like rebalancing, if one may call it that. For many, it offers a form of freedom: the ability to compartmentalise, to be fully present at work and fully present at home.

The importance of a routine

With the rise of remote work and never-ending work hours even at home, a fixed work routine has become a top priority for employees. It’s important for employers to adapt to expectations, prioritising flexibility, transparency, and employee well-being. 

Mum influencer Harpreeth Suri says: “Working long hours may seem like a badge of honour, but it can lead to burnout and impact mental health. For me, leaving the corporate world was a liberating experience. I now have the time and energy to focus on what truly matters — my family and creative pursuits. Slow life culture has allowed me to redefine productivity and success. I’m more intentional about how I spend my time, and I’ve found joy in the simple things. My experience has taught me that happiness and fulfilment come from living a balanced life, not just professional achievements.”

Slow life culture, which redefines the concepts of productivity and success and calls for intentional living,  is on the rise.  “As a creator, I’ve learned to prioritise my mental well-being and make time for self-care. I’m not alone in this journey. Many working professionals are seeking a better balance between their personal and professional lives,” Suri says.

Perhaps, Gen-Z’s arrival in the workforce is revolutionising this change and demand. The new generation’s focus on personal time and well-being is driving organisations to adapt and evolve their structures, policies, and cultures to meet the needs of a changing workforce. 

Back in Bollywood, Indian actor Pankaj Tripathi has advocated for reasonable working hours and said that he’s constantly working, sometimes for 16-18 hours a day. He said in an interview that now he is practicing the art of saying ‘no’, so that everyone knows there is a boundary. 

According to global survey by Randstad Workmonitor, 48 per cent of people would leave a job if it prevented them from enjoying their life. Meanwhile, 57 per cent to 61 per cent say that a negative work-life balance will stop them from taking a job offer.

The outliers

However, not every profession can work on restricted timings. “While a nine-to-five work culture sounds idyllic, the reality of our hyper-connected world makes it increasingly elusive, especially in marketing and PR,” Archana Jain, chief executive officer of PR Pundit Havas Red, told wknd.  “The always-on news cycle, real-time digital demands, and client expectations mean our work often extends beyond traditional hours not just during crises, but across lifestyle events and brand activations that span evenings and weekends. Professions like ours thrive on agility and responsiveness,” Jain said. 

“That doesn’t easily lend itself to rigid work hours. However, this does not mean that work-life balance is a myth. We must recognise that the pace can take a toll. That’s why mental well-being must be as much a priority as performance.”

So, how do organisations like hers handle crazy work schedules? “At PR Pundit Havas Red, we have consciously adopted a hybrid work format — two remote workdays each week — to help reduce commute stress and help team members better manage caregiving and household responsibilities. We also encourage digital detox weekends after intensive campaigns. These are small, but meaningful step to help our teams recharge. And we have monthly counselling conversations around burnout, stress, and the need to disconnect. This isn’t just compassionate, it’s essential to sustaining creativity and energy in our industry,” Jain says.

In a world that doesn’t pause come 5pm, balance comes not from clocking in and out, but from thoughtful policies and structures that respect personal time while supporting individual ambitions. The goal is not to go back in time, but to keep an eye on the dynamic workplace, which must be flexible, empathetic, and focus on human-first.