Salaried employees work longer hours than casual workers, finds survey

A new government survey has shed light on an alarming trend in the workplace—salaried employees, especially those working in corporate environments, are putting in significantly more hours each week than their casual or self-employed counterparts.
According to the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) for July 2023-June 2024, regular wage earners are clocking an average of 48.2 hours a week, compared to just under 40 hours for casual laborers and the self-employed.
This difference in work hours isn’t just a statistic; it paints a picture of the demanding corporate work culture that salaried employees face. Tight deadlines, high expectations, and the ever-present need for productivity are stretching working hours to new extremes.
For many corporate workers, these 48-hour weeks translate to roughly 9 hours of work each day if they’re working five days a week, or 8 hours if it’s a six-day work week.
While some HR experts argue that these hours aren’t necessarily overwhelming, others suggest that it’s not just the number of hours that matter—it’s the environment.
The constant hustle, the pressure to perform, and the rising demands of modern workplaces are pushing many employees to the brink.
Interestingly, while salaried employees are working longer hours, casual laborers and the self-employed are facing a different kind of stress.
Although they tend to work fewer hours—just under 40 per week—these workers often deal with income instability and irregular schedules. Self-employed individuals may enjoy the flexibility of setting their own hours, but their work often depends on market demand, and they don’t have the safety net of a stable paycheck.
The conversation around work hours and employee well-being gained renewed urgency after the death of Anna Sebastian Perayil, a 26-year-old Ernst & Young employee in Pune. Her death has been linked to extreme work-related stress, igniting a nationwide debate on the toll that long hours and high-pressure environments can take on employees.
The incident has prompted a government investigation into work culture and the impact of long hours on employee health.
As more details emerge, many are calling for companies to rethink how they approach deadlines and employee expectations. Experts argue that businesses should foster a more balanced work culture—one that values productivity within reasonable limits and discourages the notion that working long hours is a badge of honor.
As work-related stress continues to make headlines, one thing is clear: the way we work needs to change. Whether it’s the long hours salaried employees are putting in or the unstable schedules of casual workers, the current system isn’t sustainable. A healthier work-life balance is no longer just a luxury—it’s becoming a necessity.
For salaried employees, it’s not just about managing the hours in a week, but also about creating a work environment that supports well-being. And for companies, the message is simple: the time has come to prioritise employee health over outdated ideas of commitment and productivity.