Work Culture Debate

Work Culture Debate: L&T Chairman’s Call for 90-Hour Work Weeks Sparks Outrage

The corporate world is no stranger to controversial opinions about productivity and work culture, but a recent statement from Larsen & Toubro (L&T) Chairman, SN Subrahmanyan, has stirred up an intense debate across India. Subrahmanyan advocated for a grueling 90-hour workweek and even expressed his desire for employees to work on Sundays, claiming it would improve productivity and align with his personal work ethic.

The Controversial Statement

A video shared on Reddit captured the chairman lamenting his inability to make employees work seven days a week. In his remarks, Subrahmanyan stated:
“I regret I am not able to make you work on Sundays, to be honest. If I can make you work on Sundays, I will be happier, because I work on Sundays too.”

He further challenged traditional views of personal time, asking employees:
“What do you do sitting at home? How long can you stare at your wife? How long can wives stare at their husbands? Get to the office and start working.”

These statements did not sit well with many, especially younger professionals and advocates of work-life balance.

---

Social Media Backlash

The comments immediately went viral, drawing sharp criticism from employees and the broader online community. Social media platforms, particularly Twitter and LinkedIn, were flooded with reactions condemning his remarks.

Critics accused Subrahmanyan of promoting an antiquated work culture that ignores the need for mental well-being and personal life. Terms like “corporate slavery” were used to describe such expectations, highlighting the growing rift between employees and leadership in certain corporate sectors.

Company Defense

In the wake of this backlash, L&T issued a clarification, asserting that Subrahmanyan’s comments were misunderstood. The company’s statement read:
“The Chairman’s remarks reflect this larger ambition, emphasizing that extraordinary outcomes require extraordinary effort.”

While the organization attempted to frame the statement as a call for excellence, it left many employees wondering where the line between ambition and exploitation should be drawn.

---

A Broader Industry Context

This is not the first time a corporate leader has made headlines for advocating excessive work hours. In late 2023, Infosys co-founder Narayana Murthy suggested young professionals should work 70-hour weeks to boost national productivity. These comments, like Subrahmanyan’s, sparked heated discussions about corporate culture in India.

For decades, India’s corporate world has balanced traditional hierarchies with the demands of a globalized economy. However, the younger workforce is increasingly prioritizing mental health, flexible schedules, and work-life balance over long hours in the office. These shifts create friction between long-standing cultural expectations and evolving employee priorities.

What is The WayOut

In an age filled with opinions, declarations, and overstatements, I believe adding a grounded perspective can help streamline thoughts and discussions. It’s crucial to step back and analyze situations rationally rather than veering too far in any extreme direction.

Overdoing anything, regardless of its merit, often backfires. For instance, the notion that becoming a CEO or a leader of a major company grants someone the authority to define how people should think, live, and work is fundamentally flawed. Human experience is vast and varied, and no single perspective can encapsulate it all. Consider history’s stark lessons: Adolf Hitler believed he was infallibly right, yet time and humanity have judged otherwise. Similarly, Japan, during its post-war economic boom, adopted a culture of relentless work, emphasizing workaholism as a virtue. However, the consequences—declining birth rates, rising suicide rates, and burnout—forced the nation to reconsider. Today, Japan is actively encouraging work-life balance with initiatives like mandatory holidays to combat these repercussions.

Conversely, championing the mantra of “my life, my way” without forethought or responsibility can also lead to chaos. While rejecting unsustainable practices like 90-hour work weeks is reasonable, using this as an excuse for laziness or lack of ambition isn’t the solution. Balance is critical.

Nature has always thrived on balance, a lesson echoed by great minds across history. Albert Einstein wisely noted, “Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving.” Balance doesn’t mean stagnation; it’s about aligning progress with harmony.

Both overworking and underworking lead to a distorted reality, and somewhere in the middle lies the path to a fulfilling life. As the Dalai Lama once said, “Happiness is not something ready-made. It comes from your own actions.” Actions rooted in balance and self-awareness are key to living authentically and sustainably.