As the city sleeps tonight, a large number of youngsters will log in and tap away at their computers, servicing clients in faraway locations. While they earn a hefty paycheck, professionals say these nocturnal earnings come at a price.
Psychiatrists emphasize that missing out on nighttime sleep is detrimental, as sleeping during the day can never match the quality of nighttime sleep, resulting in a disruption of the body's inherent day-night rhythm.
Renowned psychiatrist Dr. Ruma Bhattacharya cautions, "I am currently seeing at least three dozen young clients who work online at night. They consistently report issues such as poor sleep quality, mood swings, and a loss of appetite and libido. "In the absence of precise statistics, industry insiders estimate that around 10,000 city youngsters are employed by online companies, with about 2,000 working exclusively night shifts.
This number witnessed a considerable surge after the COVID-19 pandemic prompted companies in major cities like Mumbai, Bangalore, Delhi, and Pune to adopt the Work From Home (WFH) model. The new work pattern saw numbers skyrocket, as the figures include those who have returned to Bhopal—their hometown—to live with their families and benefit from the comparatively lower cost of living.
Dr Bhattacharya says the lack of nighttime sleep has different effects on different people.
According to her, all of these workers have symptoms of circadian (day-night) rhythm disruption; they are just more severe in some cases. Niharika Bhushal, a senior HR practitioner with the city-based VGroup, concurs: "Industry attrition rates are high at 30 percent due to the inability of employees to cope with the consequences of nighttime work."She agrees that working 12-hour shifts that conclude early in the morning does affect the physical and emotional health of some employees.
Listing reasons that attract young talent to the industry despite the risks, Bhushal says lucrative incentives and future plans to migrate to the U.S. are key motivators for youngsters joining the industry. Divulging details, industry insiders claim that incentives earned by employees in U.S. dollars place them in the higher income bracket by city standards within a few years.
They say that earnings from the industry have brought a mini boom to the city economy, as these youngsters splurge on eating out and partying at tony lounges that have sprung up to cater to this clientele.
Offering a contrary perspective, Saim Khan, a resident of Idgah Hills, says, "I joined the industry in 2015 and worked at several locations before deciding to give up and move on to an online operation that allows me to work during the day."
"I had become irritable, gained weight, was constantly regulating my Vitamin D levels, and felt left out by family and friends as I was only free on weekends," says Khan. If Khan had become a homebody, Bhushal reflects the prevalent mood when she says that COVID altered her perspective on life, and she now tries to live life to the fullest.
"If my work situation doesn't allow me to party through the week, I ensure that I make up for lost time on weekends," she says. "Relationship discord—marital or otherwise, is also common among nighttime workers, as are anger issues, anxiety, and depression," informs Dr. Bhattacharya. While most technology-based organizations refrain from delegating purely nighttime responsibilities, verticals like Recruitment Process Outsourcing require employees to align their work hours with U.S. time zones.
Dr. Bhattacharya points out that it is important to remember that those employed by online companies are not the only ones working nights, and adds that the situation is no different for those employed in railways, police, and health services.
