A survey by a global recruitment firm has thrown up interesting insights into the preferences of the modern, urban employees and underscored their clarity of thought when it comes to making work-related decision-making.
Not only was there a strong resistance among employees towards the idea of extended working hours, 44 per cent of the respondents prioritised their personal time, health, and overall well-being over additional benefits for long work hours.
The report, titled, 'Extended Work Hours a Deal Breaker? Nearly Half of Employees Would Quit', was the result of an online survey by HR solutions provider, Genius HRTech, that was conducted among 2,076 employees across sectors from July 1 – July 31, 2025.
At least 40 per cent respondents in the Genius Digipoll said they would only consider accepting longer working hours if appropriate compensation was offered; while 44 per cent resisted the idea, especially in the absence of additional benefits or flexibility.
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Only 16 per cent stated that they are either open to trying it out or believe it could lead to increased productivity, added the report.
What was most outstanding was an unequivocal desire for transparency and inclusion in decision-making, with around 79 per cent of the respondents saying they would want to be actively involved in consultations around any changes to work hours, and advocated for open communication and collaborative policymaking.
"The modern workforce is not resistant to change, they seek fairness, empathy, and dialogue. Pushing longer hours without thoughtful planning will only widen the gap between management and employees. Companies must realise that productivity isn't just about time spent, but energy invested," said R P Yadav, Genius HRTech Chairman and Managing Director.
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