L&T Chairman's 90-Hour Work Remark Sparks Backlash
Larsen & Toubro (L&T) Chairman S N Subrahmanyan has sparked much debate by suggesting recently that employees could work 90 hours a week, including Sundays, which drew massive public outrage along with full-fledged support from the company. In a video message that quickly went viral, Subrahmanyan asked the employees to put in more hours for their job, saying: "What do you do sitting at home? How long can you stare at your wife? How long can wives stare at their husbands? Go to the office and start working". He further added that he himself used to work on Sundays, showing remorse that he could not make his employees do the same.
The comment has sparked waves of criticism on social media networks as users and public personalities are seen rejecting it. The video, which quickly went viral on platforms like Reddit, was likened to some of the more infamous previous statements, including Infosys founder Narayana Murthy's claim of working 70 hours a week. Bollywood star Deepika Padukone and business leader Harsh Goenka were among those who condemned Subrahmanyan's statement. Goenka took to X (formerly Twitter) to express his concerns, writing, "90 hours a week? Why not rename Sunday to ‘Sun-duty’ and make ‘day off’ a mythical concept? Working hard and smart is what I believe in, but turning life into a perpetual office shift? That’s a recipe for burnout, not success'.
Despite the flak, L&T came out with a statement defending the Chairman's words. The company said that the message from Subrahmanyan reflects a bigger vision of nation-building. The company emphasized that 'extraordinary outcomes require extraordinary effort." The spokesperson pointed out that for over 80 years, L&T has played a vital role in shaping India's infrastructure and industries, asserting that India's current decade demands a collective and dedicated effort to achieve the country's goal of becoming a developed nation.
The company said that it has always remained committed to the passion, purpose, and performance-driven culture. The statement further clarified that the Chairman was trying to inspire the workforce while the company continued to contribute to India's growth and global competitiveness.
Subrahmanyan's comments have been a cause of debate over work culture. People are asking how such high levels of work pressure can be so detrimental to mental health and work-life balance.