The WION Media Slip-Up – A Cry for Help?
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| Actual comment on Dhruv YouTube Video by an anonymous employee. |
In a shocking moment, an anonymous employee from WION, the media arm of Zee Media, accidentally revealed a troubling truth on YouTube. While commenting on Dhruv Rathee's recent video about toxic work culture in India, this employee described experiencing the same oppressive work environment at WION. The comment, intended for Rathee’s video on his personal YouTube channel, was mistakenly posted from the official WION account.
The employee wrote, "Hello Dhruv, mai abhi WION news me kaam kr rha hu jo ki Zee Media ka group hai, same work culture hai yha par bhi" (Hello Dhruv, I’m currently working at WION, which is part of Zee Media, and we have the same toxic work culture here too). This simple, yet alarming, comment indicated that the very issues Rathee highlighted—the stress, overwork, and burnout plaguing young professionals—were also present within WION.
The comment was swiftly deleted, raising concerns about the employee’s safety and whether the removal was voluntary or enforced. Was this a desperate cry for help, quickly silenced? Or did the employee realize their mistake and delete it themselves? The incident has since gone viral, with people speculating about the pressures faced by workers in media and the consequences this whistleblower might now face. It shone a spotlight on how deeply toxic work cultures are embedded across sectors, even in high-profile media organizations.
Rathee’s Hard-Hitting Exposé on Toxic Work Culture in India
In his latest video, Dhruv Rathee tackled a growing issue in India: the toxic work culture that is harming the mental and physical health of young professionals. Using the tragic case of 26-year-old Chartered Accountant Anna Sebastian Perayil, Rathee explained how the demands of overwork can push individuals to their breaking point, sometimes with fatal consequences. Anna, who worked for Ernst & Young (EY) in Pune, passed away after just four months on the job, a victim of relentless stress and exhaustion. Her heartbroken mother’s open letter to EY’s chairman became the emotional core of Rathee’s exposé.
Rathee shared startling statistics to paint the full picture: According to a 2022 McKinsey Health Institute survey, 40% of Indian employees exhibit symptoms of burnout, anxiety, or depression, with 90% attributing this to their toxic workplaces. Despite this, India’s unemployment crisis often forces workers to stay in these harmful environments, feeling trapped and powerless.
The video drew attention to the callous attitudes of corporate leadership. For example, EY India’s chairman expressed regret over Anna’s passing, but the company did not attend her funeral. Rathee highlighted that this lack of empathy extends across industries, with numerous reports of young employees collapsing under unsustainable workloads. And yet, the government appears to be moving in the wrong direction. Rathee pointed to a 2020 proposal from India’s Labour Ministry suggesting companies could legally extend the workday to 12 hours—normalizing 60-hour workweeks.
Rathee didn't hold back in calling out business leaders like Infosys co-founder Narayan Murthy, who controversially suggested that India’s youth should work 70 hours a week to boost productivity. Rathee dissected this logic, explaining that pushing employees to work beyond their limits doesn’t increase productivity—it leads to burnout and diminished efficiency. He urged for reforms similar to those in Europe and Australia, where employees are protected by laws capping working hours and granting the right to disconnect from work during personal time.
The video wasn’t just an exposé; it was a call to action. Rathee urged young professionals to reject toxic work environments and to voice their concerns—either by reporting internally, taking their complaints public, or, if necessary, seeking new opportunities. He underscored that workers' health and well-being must take precedence over relentless productivity demands.