'I Can't Allow My Employees To...': Zoho Corp's Sridhar Vembu On Toxic Work Culture

In a recent interview with PTI, Vembu highlighted the harmful effects of high-stress work environments, especially in major cities, and stressed the importance of adopting a more sustainable

As the buzz around workplace pressure and mental health issues is on the rise—particularly in light of recent deaths of corporate employees linked to excessive work stress and toxic work culture within the company—Zoho Corporation’s CEO Sridhar Vembu has advocated for a fundamental shift in how companies prioritise employee well-being. 

In a recent interview with the news agency PTI, Vembu highlighted the harmful effects of high-stress work environments, especially in major cities, and stressed the importance of adopting a more sustainable, human-centred approach to business practices.

Vembu voiced his alarm at the rising number of corporate employees overwhelmed by work-related stress, describing the situation as a "pressure cooker" that organisations must confront. "You already have loneliness, long commutes, stressful work conditions. So, you are throwing people into a very big pressure cooker, and very tragically, some people break, other people are broken," Vembu remarked. He cautioned that companies that drive their workforce to the brink in the quest for short-term profits ultimately set themselves up for failure.

Drawing from his nearly three-decade career, Vembu reflected on how he has managed to sustain long-term productivity. "I have been working for 27-28 years and hope to work for another 28 if possible. But to do that, I cannot allow myself, or my employees, to burn out," he explained. He stressed that prioritising employee well-being is essential for long-term success.

One of the critical solutions Vembu proposed is decentralising business operations, advocating for a shift away from major urban centres to allow employees to live closer to home. "We bring young people from small towns into big cities, and their first challenge is loneliness. Then, they face commutes that can stretch up to two hours each way, particularly in cities like Bengaluru. It’s no surprise that many feel overwhelmed," he remarked. By expanding into smaller towns and rural areas, Vembu believes companies can alleviate employee stress while fostering a more sustainable growth model.

Vembu’s call for a fundamental shift in workplace culture is crucial, as many companies struggle to balance productivity with employee well-being.