1. Cultural Transformations in Workplaces
Workplaces in 2025 reflected both progress and pressure. The biggest highlight was job losses across industries, especially in IT. Global trade tensions, supply shortages, and regional conflicts disrupted business plans and project timelines. Firms became cautious, focusing on productivity over expansion.
The return-to-office push accelerated as leaders sought renewed collaboration. For many, it rebuilt culture; for caregivers and commuters, it created a new strain. Leadership style came under scrutiny after a prominent chairman publicly endorsed 90-hour workweeks, sparking debates on burnout and balance.
Stagnant fresher pay at Rs. 3-3.5 lakh per annum and a rising CEO-to-employee wage gap added to resentment, prompting shareholders to reject some executive bonuses. Meanwhile, employee activism grew, and professionals used LinkedIn and X to question policies and highlight workload stress. Inclusion weakened in U.S.-linked multinationals following policy rollbacks, but Indian firms kept gender and...
