2025-01-11 07:06:13 :
Larsen & Toubro (L&T) chairman SN Subrahmanyan sparked the debate on work-life balance after advocating for a 90-hour work week. Joining the conversation, cricket analyst and former Kolkata Knight Riders director Joy Bhattacharjya said that in the 1980s and 1990s, top leaders often ignored other factors for a company’s success besides hard work.
He cited liberalization and the new global world order as factors leading to industrial growth.
“Those of us who started working in the 80s and 90s have seen many bosses like S Subramanyam, who were quite capable people and were blessed by liberalization, the industries they were in and the new global order. Surprisingly, they prospered far beyond our expectations (sic),” Bhattacharjya wrote on X.
“Now they have come to believe that it is just because of their talent and hard work, even though they often come home late just because they are more satisfied with their egos from the boys’ club in the office and all the attendant cronies than going home to their families,” he added .
What did L&T Chairman say?
A video of the L&T chairman talking to employees at an internal meeting has surfaced online, in which he questions the need for leave, “What are you doing sitting at home? How long can you stare at your wife? How long can a wife stare at her husband? ?Go to the office and start working.” He also expressed regret for not having employees come to work on Sunday.
The recent debate on work-life balance and long working hours was started by Infosys co-founder Narayan Murthy, who advocated a 70-hour work week.
He said that young people in India working 70 hours a week will promote the development of the country.
“India has the lowest productivity of any economy. Unless we reduce corruption and focus on hard work, we will not be competitive globally,” Murthy told the 3one4 Capital podcast.
Like Murthy, business figures such as Elon Musk, Alibaba co-founder Jack Ma, Ola CEO Bhavesh Agarwal also support long working hours.
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