The debate on working hours reignited when Infosys’s Narayana Murthy advocated for a 70-hour workweek. After a brief pause, Larsen & Toubro Chairman SN Subrahmanyam stirred the discussion further by suggesting a 90-hour workweek while addressing work-life balance. This debate has now taken center stage on social media, fueled by remarks from top tech leaders.
In a video captured during an internal meeting with his employees, SN Subrahmanyam advocates for elongated working hours while pressing for not taking leave even on Sundays. He also questions, “I regrate I am not able to make you work on Sundays. If you work on Sundays, I will be happier. What do you do while sitting at home? How long can you stare at your wife, how long do wives stare at your husbands? Get to the office and start working”
However, the L&T office has considered his remark “casual in nature” as circulating in media, while L&T's HR head Sonica Muraleedharan shared a post on LinkedIn saying, “It’s truly disheartening to see how the words of our MD & Chairman, S.N. Subrahmanyan (SNS) have been taken out of context, leading to misunderstandings and unnecessary criticism. Having been present during the internal address, I can confidently state that SNS never implied or mandated 90-hour work weeks.”
Further, she added, “With nearly five years in this organization and numerous addresses from SNS under my belt, I can personally vouch for his leadership style. He treats every employee as part of an extended family, fostering a sense of unity and belonging that’s rare in today’s corporate world. SNS consistently demonstrates an exceptional ability to balance his demanding professional commitments while creating a nurturing and empowering environment for his team.
He always encourages us to embrace innovation, continuously develop our skills, and grow both personally and professionally. Despite his packed schedule, he takes the time to connect with employees and ensure their voices are heard.
SNS is, without question, a leader who genuinely cares for his team’s well-being.”
“His visionary leadership and deep commitment to supporting his employees sets him apart as a mentor who leads by example. Working under his leadership has been more than just a job – it has been a transformative experience, akin to participating in a living masterclass on leadership, where every interaction imparts valuable life lessons.
It’s crucial to take a step back and fully understand the context and intent behind his words before rushing to judgement. Leaders like SNS inspire positive change and growth, and it’s vital to recognize their efforts rather than misinterpret them. Instead of focusing on controversy, let’s celebrate and support leaders who empower, motivate, and elevate their teams, leaving a lasting, positive impact on the organization as a whole.”
Ever since the video circulated on social media, it has ignited a debate on work-life balance involving biggies like Bollywood actor Deepika Padukone who chose to comment on the matter through her Instagram story that it is quite shocking that people working at such senior levels make these kinds of statements.
Later, Anand Mahindra, Chairman of Mahindra Group in his interview with Times Drive responded on work-life balance saying, “I have my wife is wonderful I love staring at her I spend more time.”
Now, Radhika Gupta, Managing Director and CEO of Adelweiss Mutual Dund is the latest to join the discussion by sharing her prospects on work-life balance. In her post on her X handle saying:
“Choices, Hard Work and Happiness
I debated whether to write this post, because the risk of being misquoted on this issue in this clickbait world is high. But I am trying to share what is a nuanced point of view on the issue of work-life balance.
1. Hard work is important and I was taught and believe that it is the only way to rise. In the competitive workplace, I also believe the person who works harder will rise faster. Great careers, achievements, and companies are the results of a lot of hard work.
2. Hard work is a choice. Ambition is a choice. And choices have consequences. Not everybody has to aspire to be a CEO or founder with a mega exit. I know many people who have chosen the path of a less demanding career within their field because time off from work matters to them. No judgments.
3. Now let's talk hours. I worked 100 hours a week for four consecutive months on my 1st project during my 1st job.18 hours a day, with one day off (and not Sunday—I got Monday off because I had to be at a client site on Sunday).
What was it like? 90% of the time, I was miserable. I went to office bathrooms and cried, ate chocolate cake from room service at 2 a.m., and was hospitalized twice. Most importantly, I may have been at work for 100 hours, but I was not productive in those. The same story is true for many of my graduating classmates who joined similar roles in banking, consulting, etc. Hard work is not equal to hours worked. Many of those hours in entry-level careers were pure facetime.
Heck, I know a friend who created a screensaver with an Excel model to convince their boss they were in the office! No wonder many of us didn't last in those roles very long. Hard work needs to be sustainable for us to be able to do it for a long period of time, which is when compounding kicks in.
4. Hours is not equal to productivity. Many developed nations work 8–4 but ensure those hours are productive. Come in on time, bring your best to work, have only necessary meetings, and use technology to be effective. Recently, I was telling my investment team, “Let’s find a way to use AI to make research more efficient—our talent cannot spend hours on grunt work.”
5. Family and mental health cannot be absent from this. Otherwise, we will build a world of anxiety and breakdowns, early heart attacks, unhappy marriages, and absentee parenting. I could work those hours I did as a young, single girl because I had no responsibilities. Today, between my career, managing my home, caring for parents, and giving time to my husband and son, I am consumed. And this is despite privilege: a hands-on husband, support staff, parents who chip in, and lots of resources. I commute 1.5 hours a day, but many commute 3–4 hours in our cities. They have homes to run, chores to do, dabbas to pack, kids to drop to school and more.
6. As organizations, we have to think about the culture we create. Of course, founders/CEOs work harder—they have economic incentives to do so. But I have found in our own org that when you create a culture where people find purpose in what they do, they will go above and beyond for you, even in difficult personal circumstances. Forcing anything is hard, let alone enforcing a certain number of hours. Inspiring people to give their best is easier.
7. All of us have to contribute to making India a developed nation. But as we do so, we should also strive to be a happy nation—enjoying the fruits of that development: the joy of building, of giving our families better lives, and of experiencing what the previous generation may not have had. Happiness, inclusive growth, and development go hand in hand.
Finally, I meet many young people, especially women, who are questioning whether they should have a family because of the fear that family and career cannot coexist. This debate scares them even more. Having a happy relationship with work and life is possible while contributing to the dream of Viksit Bharat. Let’s tell our kids that.”
Such extended working hours can severely disrupt the balance between professional responsibilities and personal well-being. While the intention might be to drive productivity and economic growth, this approach risks burnout, reduced mental health, and diminished quality of life for employees. A sustainable work-life balance should ideally promote efficiency without compromising personal time, rest, and overall health, suggesting that a more moderated work schedule would be more beneficial in the long run.
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