The recent debate around working 90 hours a week has sparked heated discussions about employee well-being and work-life balance. While the idea of overworking raises valid concerns about mental and physical health, we must separate the concept of overworking from the idea of working with purpose and freedom. Instead of enforcing exhausting hours, we need to empower individuals to work on their terms, fostering opportunities for wealth creation and entrepreneurial growth without compromising well-being.
What’s Wrong with Overworking?
Let’s address the elephant in the room: excessive work hours take a toll on health, productivity, and creativity. Burnout isn’t a badge of honor—it’s a signal that something is broken in the way we work. The solution is not to push people to the brink but to reimagine how we can make work more fulfilling and impactful.
When individuals work beyond their capacity, it often leads to diminishing returns. Fatigue reduces focus, creativity, and decision-making ability. In the long run, overworking not only harms employees but also undermines the businesses that rely on their talents. So, what’s the alternative?
Working Smarter, Not Just Harder
Instead of demanding endless hours from employees, we should focus on giving them the flexibility to choose how and where they contribute. Imagine this: a talented professional dedicates six hours a day to a promising start-up, four hours to consulting for a multinational, and uses the remaining time to build their own business. This isn’t overwork—it’s purposeful work driven by passion and ambition.
When people are given the autonomy to distribute their skills across different ventures, they’re not just working—they’re creating. This approach allows individuals to diversify their skills, increase their income streams, and even build their own companies. It’s a win for employees, businesses, and the economy at large.
The Case for Moonlighting: Breaking the Double Standard
Now, let’s talk about moonlighting—the practice of working additional jobs outside one’s primary employment. While it has been criticized in some quarters, there’s a glaring double standard we need to address. If corporate directors can serve on multiple boards and advise various companies simultaneously, why can’t employees apply their skills across different ventures in their extra time?
Moonlighting, when done ethically and transparently, can be a game-changer. It allows employees to explore new opportunities, earn additional income, and even develop entrepreneurial ventures. For businesses, it’s an opportunity to access diverse talent and perspectives that wouldn’t be available in a traditional full-time setup.
The resistance to moonlighting often stems from outdated notions of loyalty and control. But in today’s dynamic economy, businesses should embrace the fact that talented individuals can—and should—contribute to multiple ventures if they choose to. It’s time to move past the idea of "owning" an employee’s time and instead focus on fostering a culture of mutual growth.
Fostering SME Growth Through Talent Freedom
One of the biggest beneficiaries of this flexible approach to work is the small and medium enterprise (SME) sector. SMEs often struggle to attract top talent due to limited budgets. Allowing professionals to work with multiple companies opens the door for SMEs to access skilled individuals who might otherwise remain confined to large corporations.
This cross-pollination of talent not only drives innovation but also levels the playing field for smaller businesses. It encourages the growth of more enterprises, creating a vibrant ecosystem where both start-ups and established companies thrive. As SMEs grow, they create jobs, foster local economies, and contribute to wealth generation across the board.
A Workforce That Builds Wealth, Not Exhaustion
When we give people the freedom to work where and how they want, we create a workforce that’s driven by purpose, not exhaustion. Employees who manage their time and energy wisely can achieve a healthy balance between work, personal growth, and rest. They’re more productive, more creative, and more fulfilled.
This approach also nurtures an entrepreneurial mindset. Individuals who work across different domains learn to think like business owners, valuing their skills and time while identifying opportunities for growth. It’s this mindset that drives innovation, creates wealth, and builds industries—not endless hours spent on a single task.
The Big Question
As India strives to become a global economic powerhouse, we must ask ourselves: Are we ready to embrace this change? Can businesses let go of outdated notions of control and instead empower employees to design their own careers?
The future of work isn’t about clocking endless hours—it’s about making every hour meaningful. It’s about building a culture where employees and businesses collaborate to create value, drive innovation, and share in the rewards. And yes, it’s about rethinking moonlighting—not as a threat but as a powerful tool for growth.
In the end, it’s not about how long we work—it’s about how well we work. Let’s build a workforce that’s smarter, stronger, and more self-reliant. Because when individuals thrive, businesses grow. And when businesses grow, economies flourish. Isn’t that a vision worth working for?