An undated video of Larsen & Toubro (L&T) Chairman SN Subramanian endorsing a 90-hour work week has sparked online debate after it went viral.
In the clip he said, “I regret that I am not able to make you work on Sundays.” I would be more than happy if I could make you work on Sunday, because I work on Sunday. What do you do sitting at home? How long can you keep staring at your wife? How long can a wife keep staring at her husband?”
His comments faced criticism on social media, reigniting the debate on work-life balance. The organization later issued a clarification which also became controversial, and it added fuel to the fire as it said, “At L&T, nation-building is at the core of our mandate. For more than eight decades, we have been shaping India’s infrastructure, industries and technological capabilities. We believe that this is India’s Decade, a time that demands collective dedication and effort to drive progress and realize our shared vision of becoming a developed nation. The Chairman’s comments reflect this great ambition, emphasizing that extraordinary results require extraordinary effort. At L&T, we are committed to fostering a culture where passion, purpose and performance drive us forward.
Celebs including actress Deepika Padukone and former badminton player Jwala Gutta have expressed their opinions on work-life balance and her misogynistic comments.
Earlier in October 2023, Infosys co-founder NR Narayana Murthy also came on the radar when he advocated 70 hours of work to compete with the fastest growing countries like China and Japan.
Posting on her Instagram story, actress Deepika Padukone said, “It is shocking to see people holding such senior positions making such statements. #MentalHealthMatters”. Following the company’s clarification statement, she posted another story and wrote, “And they made it even worse…”.
Former badminton champion Jwala Gutta also addressed the ex and wrote, “I mean… first of all, why shouldn’t he stare at his wife… and why only on Sundays. It is sad and sometimes unbelievable that such educated and people in the highest positions of big organizations are not taking mental health and mental comfort seriously… and are making such misogynistic statements and exposing themselves so openly. Are exposing!! It’s disappointing and scary.”
What the pros say:
Vijitha Shenoy, HR business partner at an IT company, comments, “This comment is a complete waste of time. It would be better for him to take up a hobby, as it is clear that he has nothing else to occupy his time and is extremely absorbed in company.’
HR professional Ranjay Kumar offers a balanced view: “I look at this situation from two angles. On one hand, the younger generation is clear about maintaining a healthy work-life balance and values taking breaks to relax. On the other hand, there are professionals who are often willing to work long hours and sacrifice personal time due to factors such as job insecurity or being the sole breadwinner.
From the expert:
Clinical psychologist Pulkit Kumar explains that mental health is important, and it is much easier to maintain good mental health when we have a balanced life – time to reflect, relax and always focus on goals No.
He says, “Constantly chasing goals can lead to stress. We have seen an increase in cardiovascular problems in young people in their 30s and 40s, and conditions like high blood pressure and diabetes emerging in people in their 20s and 30s. Which is due to this.” For stress. We don’t want to work like machines, with the rise of AI, there is a better opportunity to optimize work, and it should be used in a way that supports well-being.
What other countries follow:
Germany: A trial of a four-day working week began for six months in February 2024.
Denmark: The average working week is 33 hours.
Spain: There is a policy of working 40 hours a week.
Belgium: Made the four-day work week optional in 2022, up to 40 hours per week.
Brazil: The standard work week is 44 hours.
India: In September 2024, the International Labor Organization reported that 51% of India’s workforce is working 49 or more hours weekly, ranking us second among countries with the highest rates of extended working hours.
