NEW DELHI: Industrialist Harsh Goenka on Thursday took a dig at L&T chairman’s 90-hour work week remark saying the ‘day off’ should be made a ‘mythical concept’.
“90 hours a week? Why not rename Sunday to ‘Sun-duty’ and make ‘day off’ a mythical concept!” he said on X while sharing a video of Larsen & Toubro (L&T) chairman SN Subrahmanyan’s remarks.
“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!” he wrote in the post.
Subrahmanyan once again reignited the work-life balance debate with his advocacy for a 90-hour work week and suggestion for employees to forgo their Sundays.
In a circulated video, he made contentious remarks about domestic life, stating “How long can you stare at your wife,” while encouraging staff to spend additional time in office.
The statement rekindled discussions about work-life balance, following Infosys co-founder Narayana Murthy’s earlier proposition for a 70-hour work week.
The video showed Subrahmanyan expressing, “I regret I am not able to make you work on Sundays. If I can make you work on Sundays, I will be more happy, because I work on Sundays.”
He continued with controversial statements about domestic life, prompting social media backlash, with critics questioning the sustainability of extended screen time and management oversight.
L&T subsequently issued a statement contextualising the chairman’s comments, relating them to extraordinary efforts needed for national development.
The company emphasised its commitment to nation-building, highlighting its eight-decade contribution to India’s infrastructure, industries, and technological advancement.
In the footage, responding to CCO Sumeet Chatterjee’s query about Saturday work requirements, Subrahmanyan reiterated his stance on Sunday work.
He shared an anecdote about a Chinese individual attributing their potential to surpass the US to their 90-hour work week, compared to Americans’ 50 hours.
The video garnered significant criticism, with commentators questioning the disparity between executive and employee expectations.
This incident follows previous discussions about workplace demands, including the tragic death of a young EY consultant in July last year.
The debate expanded with Gautam Adani’s recent comments, stating “Wife will leave if one spends eight hours with family,” while emphasising that work-life balance remains a personal choice.