Distraction among IT Professionals: A Humane Approach

An article published recently in a leading daily ‘Cut distraction, increase productivity’ makes one think about the basic rights and freedoms of workers, particularly those who work in IT and related industries. ‘The author sobs as she observes the average employee fritters away 10-15 hours each week in unproductive work, and burns 20 percent of precious work time each day surfing the web’. It seems the intention is to squeeze the human resources maximum by not allowing the workers spend time for leisure. ‘It is also alleged that the biggest distraction at the workplace followed by frequent breaks from work, visits to the water cooler and running personal errands. On an average, 5.6 hours are spent each week in unproductive meetings, and another 1.5 hours is spent sorting through office clutter’.
The people working in the fields of Information Technology, Software development, Business Process Outsourcing, etc, are mostly getting huge salary and allowances. Hence the employers are always thinking about a proportionate return from their employees. Most of these firms are operating in the Special Economic Zones and away from the reign of certain unified labor rules. The nonstop schedule of toil of repeated and strenuous nature leads to the phenomenon of the unproductive works as discussed above. Compared to other fields and sectors these workers need much enjoyment and leisure during work hours. (Remember the employees in the public sector enjoy their working hours though it leads to losses). Even though Human Relations departments are active in the private sector to guard against the depression and strain among workers, its efforts are much overlooked. The lack of Trade Unions and Employment Organizations to fight for the employees’ rights is also a reason for this exploitation. The work culture in tune with the capitalist mode of production in these sectors will just contribute to a disregard to social and political realities and neglect to the downtrodden. The need of the day is that the youths working in IT fields must be given ample opportunities to engage in and conscious about the current socio-political issues, national and local issues at least in their work place, disregarding the said UNPRODUCTIVE FACTORS. In short these professionals need a humane consideration to relieve their frustrations and overtax.