Harsh Goenka Joins Deepika Padukone in Criticizing L&T Chairman’s Statements

Mumbai, Jan 10 (NationPress) In light of Bollywood icon Deepika Padukone voicing her concerns regarding the comments made by the chairman of Larsen & Toubro, Harsh Goenka, the Chairperson of the RPG Group, has also criticized SN Subrahmanyan’s statements.

Subrahmanyan's controversial suggestion for employees to work 90 hours a week and show up on Sundays has raised eyebrows.

Goenka took to his X, previously known as Twitter, to express his views, stating, “Work smart, not like a slave.”

“90 hours a week? Why not rename Sunday to ‘Sun-duty’ and make ‘day off’ just a fantasy! While I believe in hard and smart work, turning life into an endless office grind is a surefire way to end up burned out, not successful. Achieving work-life balance is not a luxury; it’s a necessity. That’s my perspective! #WorkSmartNotSlave,” Goenka tweeted.

On January 9, Deepika, an advocate for mental health, criticized Subrahmanyan for his blatant dismissal of labor laws and mental well-being.

She shared a post from journalist Faye D'Souza about the comments and remarked, “It’s shocking to witness individuals in such high positions make these kinds of statements. #MentalHealthMatters”.

This incident isn’t the first time a business leader has made unrealistic demands on India's workforce. Previously, Infosys co-founder N. R. Narayana Murthy ignited controversy by suggesting young Indians should work 70 hours a week to help the country progress.

D’Souza subsequently posted a statement from Larsen & Toubro, which stated: “At L&T, nation-building is central to our mission. For over 80 years, we have been instrumental in developing India's infrastructure, industries, and technological capabilities. We believe this is India's decade, requiring collective commitment and effort to drive progress and fulfill our shared vision of becoming a developed nation.”

“The Chairman's comments reflect this broader ambition, highlighting that exceptional results necessitate exceptional efforts. At L&T, we are dedicated to cultivating a culture driven by passion, purpose, and performance.”

Deepika shared the statement again, adding, “And they just made it worse…”