58 Per Cent Of Indian Employees Experience Burnout, BCG Survey Finds

The report, titled "Four Keys to Boosting Inclusion and Beating Burnout," indicates that globally, 48 per cent of workers from eight surveyed countries report suffering from burnout

A recent survey by Boston Consulting Group (BCG) has revealed that 58 per cent of employees in India are experiencing burnout, a rate 10 percentage points higher than the global average. The report, titled "Four Keys to Boosting Inclusion and Beating Burnout," indicates that globally, 48 per cent of workers from eight surveyed countries report suffering from burnout.

The study, which surveyed 11,000 desk-based and frontline workers in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, India, Japan, the UK, and the US, highlights the critical role of workplace inclusion in reducing burnout. According to the findings, burnout rates are halved when employees feel included at work.

BCG's report noted the importance of senior leadership's commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). It suggests that providing fair and equal opportunities, ensuring good access to resources, and fostering psychological safety with direct managers are essential strategies for creating an inclusive work environment.

"Inclusion is central to building and maintaining a successful workforce," the report states. Employees who feel valued, respected, supported, and like they belong are less likely to experience burnout and more likely to remain in their jobs, reducing business turnover costs.

For this research, BCG used its BLISS Index (Bias-Free, Leadership, Inclusion, Safety, and Support), a tool designed to measure workplace inclusion. The Index quantifies how inclusive employees find their workplace and identifies factors that significantly influence these feelings.

The survey found that burnout is more prevalent among certain subgroups, including women, LGBTQ+ individuals, people with disabilities, and deskless workers, who experience up to 26 per cent higher burnout rates. These groups also reported lower feelings of inclusion compared to majority groups and desk-based employees.

BCG's BLISS Index shows a strong inverse relationship between inclusion and burnout. Workers with low inclusion scores are twice as likely to experience burnout compared to those with high inclusion scores. This underscores the importance of fostering inclusion to create a thriving workplace.

An interesting finding from the Indian segment of the study noted a significant reduction in burnout in companies that prioritize inclusion.

“Businesses in India and globally have a substantial opportunity to improve employee well-being and performance by focusing on the impactful yet currently low-performing sentiments related to inclusion,” said Roshni Rathi, Pride BCG India lead ally and AP DEI topic lead.