L&T Chairman Advocates 90-Hour Work Weeks: Can You Handle It?
Click to start listening
New Delhi, Jan 9 (NationPress) Following the controversial call for a 70-hour work week by Infosys' N. R. Narayana Murthy, the spotlight now shifts to Larsen & Toubro (L&T) Chairman S. N. Subrahmanyan. He has raised the bar even higher by recommending that employees put in a staggering 90 hours each week, including Sundays, in order to maintain a competitive edge.
In a video message that has become a hot topic on social media, Subrahmanyan ignited debate with his remarks on the necessity of working 90 hours weekly.
"What do you do sitting at home? How long can you stare at your wife? How long can wives stare at their husbands? Go to the office and start working," he stated during an internal meeting.
"Honestly, I apologize for not being able to make you work on Sundays. I would be much happier if I could, because I also work on Sundays," he added, emphasizing his commitment.
The L&T Chairman shared a story to support his view, recounting a discussion with a Chinese individual who claimed that China could surpass the US due to its robust work culture.
Subrahmanyan recalled the Chinese man saying, "Chinese people work 90 hours a week, while Americans only work 50 hours a week."
In his video, he also urged L&T employees to increase their efforts.
This video received significant criticism on platforms like Reddit, where users drew parallels to Murthy's previous statements on working long hours.
One user commented, "I work at L&T and had to endure this entire presentation; imagine our horror! We hold Narayan Murthy responsible for the 70-hour work week." Another user questioned, "Why do high-paid CEOs expect the same dedication from lower-paid employees? Why not offer flexible working hours? What if a company allowed options like 40 hours, 30 hours, 50 hours, or 70 hours a week with corresponding pay?"
