90-hour work week debate: Anand Mahindra, Harsh Goenka, other industry titans beg to differ with L&T chairman

The debate on work-life balance has intensified since Larsen & Toubro (L&T) chairman S.N. The same opinion of Subrahmanyan spread on social networks. In the timeless video, Subrahmanyan is heard saying that workers should work 90 hours a week.

During an employee interaction, the L&T chairman was asked why employees still had to work on Saturdays, and he quipped that he regretted not being able to make them work on Sundays as well.

“What are you doing sitting at home? How long can you look at your wife?” asked the chairman. He also said: “Come, get to the office and start working.”

Needless to say, his remarks angered India Inc. From Anand Mahindra to Harsh Mariwala, industry titans shared their thoughts on Subrahmanian’s remarks

Here’s what industry titans had to say on the viral video

HARSH GOENKA

The president of RPG Enterprises responded to Subrahmanian’s suggestion and said in a post on X: “90 hours a week. Why not rename Sunday as a ‘day off’? I believe in working hard and making it a permanent shift. That’s my point.” is #WorkSmartNotSlave.”

ANAND MAHINDRA

In response to Subrahmanyan’s statement, “How long can you look at your wife?”, the head of Mahindra Group said at an event. “I want to tell people that I’m on social media, not because I’m single. I like to look at her, so I’m not here to make friends.

Moreover, the titan of industry said that holistic thinking is essential for making the right decisions. input when making a decision.”

RAJIV BAJAJ

Bajaj Auto CEO Rajiv Bajaj said in an interview that it’s the quality of work that matters at the end of the day, not the number of hours logged. “Let the 90 hours begin at the top.”

He also compared the inefficiency of the organization to a bottle, where a cork is always formed at the top “, he said.

HARSH MARIWALA

The founder and president of Marico said in a recent interview that he does not agree with Subrahmanyan’s proposal. He said he had never worked so many hours a week in his entire career, barring a few exceptions.

“On average, I worked 8-10 hours a day.” He added that the quality of work is important, not forcing employees to clock certain hours.

He also claimed that lower-level employees are constantly being pushed to work beyond their scheduled shifts.

Vinit Nayar

Former CEO of HCL criticized the glorification of long hours and punishing schedules. He also emphasized that the best ideas, the greatest progress, do not come from endless grinding come from a mind that is alive, engaged, and free to experience life.”

For the former HCL CEO, the solution is that a person should work more if they want to, and can work less if they can. “The number doesn’t matter. It’s whether you make room the moments that make life worth living.”

ADAR PONAWALA

Responding to industrialist Anand Mahindra’s remark, “My wife is wonderful, I love to look at her,” Adar Poonawalla, executive director of the Serum Institute of India (SII), said: For me, quality of work on Sundays is more than quantity.”

ANUPAM MITTAL

Shaadi.com founder and Shark Tank India judge gave a cheeky response to L&T chairman’s polarizing proposal. “But sir, if husband and wife don’t look out for each other, how are we going to remain the most populous country in the world?”

NAMITA THAPAR

The CEO of Emcure Pharmaceuticals and a judge on Shark Tank India also addressed the raging debate about work-life balance, saying he wouldn’t be able to devote time to his interests if he worked 90 hours a week.

Thapar said in a post on X: “Since anyone and everyone gives 90 hours a week work, here’s another one… If I work 90 hours a week, how will I have time for Philosophy, Bollywood and Shayari that have taught me my best leadership lessons and helped me improve quality of my work and results ??