Viral Tweet About Frustrated Conversation With Boss Emphasises Importance Of Healthy Work Culture

Given the patriarchal structure of our society, women often quit their careers in the middle due to various reasons. This, however, doesn’t mean that companies should go easy on women or that women need special concessions at work. That said, how can workplaces prevent women from leaving the workforce? How can women be supportive of each other at workplace? Can having an understanding boss be a reality?

In a country like India, where the proportion of working women is lower than that of men, a 2021 World Bank survey revealed that there has been a steady decline in the proportion of women in India’s workforce. The female labour force participation rate has gone down from 32% in 2005 to 19% in 2021. It is more important to provide a supportive work environment to motivate women to pursue their careers because of the persistent gender rules in Indian families that prevent women from finding a work-life balance.

Tweet About Conversation With Boss Highlights healthy work Culture

A Twitter user named Stuti shared a story of a frustrated day at work. She wrote, "After I didn’t respond to my boss’s calls, she messaged me to call back. I replied that I was frustrated and didn’t want to talk, to which she replied, hand over your work to me and take 3-4 days off, but don’t be in a bad mood." Stuti added that this is what she calls a healthy work culture!

While mental health is still a taboo topic, this tweet is winning hearts on the internet. It’s vital that workplaces prioritise the mental health of employees and ensure that they take breaks when needed to work efficiently. Bombarding an employee is not going to do any good. If anything, it is going to worsen the situation. It is important that all organisations understand that promoting a healthy work culture is pivotal for both the company and its employees.

Kiruthiga Elumalai, an IT professional, said, "A few years back, I was suffering from a health issue. However, I was lucky to have an extremely supportive manager who understood my condition. Despite me being the senior member of the team, she assigned me lesser work, let me work from home till I recovered, and often took the time to check on me personally. In my eight years of experience in the workforce, she has been my biggest supporter and inspiration."

"I had a bad client call and was reduced to tears. My manager reached out to me, called a spade a spade, and fought with the client for me. She then took me away from the desk, helped me feel better, and asked me to start over the next day. I’ll never forget her kindness and her ability to trust and fight for me. We continue to be good friends even after we both moved from the organisation," said Deeptha Sreedhar, an MNC professional.

Shahana Narendran, a finance professional, said, "I was going through a very rough phase during my divorce. My entire team, including my boss, were extremely understanding of my situation. They made sure I wasn’t overloaded with work and were ready to cover for me whenever I had court hearings, a bad situation at home, or an emotional breakdown at work. They never stigmatised me or criticised my decision, which helped me get over my past."

A man’s work is always taken seriously, but a woman’s work is not. Even if she holds a senior role at work, her job is often trivialised as a hobby by many families. She is forced to prioritise the needs of her family over her professional aspirations. While this is something that families need to work on, workplaces can help by offering a supportive and understanding environment to women.

Having a colleague who comforts you when you feel down due to professional or personal reasons or a boss who stands up for you will automatically help your mind relax and work more effectively. A healthy work culture and supportive workplace motivate women to continue pursuing their careers despite challenges and make them more efficient at work. Having a supportive colleague is a huge blessing for anyone, especially women. So, why not be that for each other?

Suggested Reading: Toxic Workplaces Can Be Life-Threatening. Time To Choose Health Over Paycheck