Money makes Punekars go down the road to burn-out

Success comes at a cost, and a majority of youngsters in the city are willing to pay that price as long as their pockets jingle with the ring of six-figure salaries.
As the job market continues to swell and competition is more intense than ever, the demand for quality ''employable'' workforce has risen like never before.
And with a generic upward trend as far as job opportunities and salaries go, the IT industry seems to be at the heart of this upward trend.Twenty-five year olds are taking home a cool Rs 40,000 per month, and most are ambitious enough to double that sum in less than a year. However, the downside to this upsurge is that the chase for big bucks is taking its toll on an increasing number of young professionals who have to cope with unrealistic work timings and constant pressure. Not to mention, high stress levels that are key factors in numerous health problems.
Talking to a number of youngsters reveals that it''s a risk they are willing to take. Dheeraj Gupta works for a top bank in the city. At 28, Gupta is the proud owner of a Maruti Esteem, a hefty bank balance and a posh flat. The notso-nice fact is that he puts in as many as 15 hours of work each day. But he doesn''t seem to mind. "This is the only time to work and earn money. By the time I''m 40, I want to be rich and retired. The only downside is that I haven''t spared any thought to marriage yet," he says.
Ditto with Seema Arora, who works for a reputed advertising agency. Earning in excess of five lakh per annum, this 26-year-old has no plans of settling down for a long while. Working from 9 am to mid-night each day, she says there is fulfilment in being able to buy one''s own diamonds. "Marriage can wait. I know I''m stressed out with such killing timings, but there''s little choice. The money is too big for me to take it easy," she says.
Parents, though concerned, opine that extended work timing is a reality they have come to accept. "My son never comes home before 11 pm. Being in sales, he''s constantly under pressure to perform. I really want him to take it easy but it looks impossible right now," says Rima Gupte.
Ask psychologist Seema Darode the implications of such a lifestyle, and she says, "I feel youngsters will burn-out very soon if they push themselves to such limits. Their peak time will be greatly reduced. The solution is to curb their materialistic tendencies and keep in mind the big picture. Similarly, I think companies need to become more realistic and considerate. After all you''re dealing with human beings here."
sandhya.iyer@timesgroup.com