‘Work smart, not slave’: CEOs react to L&T chief’s 90-hour work week remark, reject ‘Sun-duty’ pitch

It is not just junior-level executives who are voicing disagreement with Larsen & Toubro Chairman SN Subrahmanyan on social media — often anonymously.

Some of India’s most well-known business leaders have also joined Subrahmanyan’s criticism.

Earlier this week, a video of Subrahmanyan went viral in which he was dismissing the idea of work-life balance. Subrahmanyan has joined the likes of Infosys founder Narayana Murthy who dismiss the notion of work-life balance and say employees should work at least 10-12 hours a day for at least six weeks a day.

At a time when professionals across industries are suffering from physical burnout and mental health issues not seen in generations, such remarks attract widespread outrage whenever they pop on social media. In the latest case, Subrahmanyan not just outraged people with his views on work-life balance but also with his inherent sexism.

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In the video, when an employee asked him why they are made to work on Saturdays, Subrahmanyan said he would want to work them even on Sundays.

Subrahmanyan said, “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 more happy because I work on Sundays also. What do you do sitting at home? How long can you stare at your wife? How long can the wives stare at their husbands? Get to the office and start working.”

In a post on X, RPG Enterprises Chairman Harsh Goenka said that work-life balance was not optional but essential and that the purpose of employment was not to turn employment into “perpetual office shift”.

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Goenka posted: “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. Work-life balance isn’t optional, it’s essential. Well, that’s my view! #WorkSmartNotSlave”

Similarly, Marico Chairman Harsh Mariwala posted on X: “Undeniably, hard work is the backbone of success, but it is not about the hours clocked in. It’s about the quality and passion one brings to those hours… When young professionals are passionate and see purpose in what they do, the need to ‘balance’ becomes a harmonious blend of personal and professional fulfillment.”

Previously, Infosys Founder Murthy had repeatedly said that he wants people to work at least 70 hours a week. He has also said that he prefers a six-day work-week.

“I don’t believe in work-life balance… I have not changed my view; I will take this with me to my grave,” said Murthy at the CNBC-TV18’s Global Leadership Summit in November.

Murthy further said that he was not happy when companies moved to five-day workweek in 1986.

Murthy said, “I was not very happy with that. I think in this country, we have to work very hard because there is no substitute for hard work even if you’re the most intelligent guy.”