Prioritizing Quality Over Quantity: Adar Poonawalla Discusses Work-Life Balance
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New Delhi, Jan 12 (NationPress) Continuing the ongoing discussion about achieving a balance in work hours, Adar Poonawalla, the CEO of the Serum Institute of India (SII), stated on Sunday that quality of work is always more valuable than quantity.
This debate was first sparked by Infosys founder Narayana Murthy and more recently by Larsen & Toubro (L&T) Chairman SN Subrahmanyan.
While Murthy has been advocating for a 70-hour workweek, Subrahmanyan has suggested a 90-hour work week, even including Sundays, to stay competitive in the market.
“Quality of work over quantity always. #worklifebalance,” Poonawalla shared in a post on X.
Additionally, reflecting a sentiment similar to that of Mahindra Group Chairman Anand Mahindra, Poonawalla remarked, “Yes [Anand Mahindra], even my wife [Natasha Poonawalla] thinks I am wonderful; she enjoys looking at me on Sundays.”
His comments follow Mahindra's recent statement asserting that it isn't about working 48, 70, or 90 hours a week, but rather about the output achieved.
“My wife is wonderful; I love looking at her,” Mahindra had quipped, poking fun at the recent comments made by the L&T Chairman.
Subrahmanyan recently expressed his disappointment regarding L&T employees not working on Sundays, stating, “If I can make you work on Sundays, I will be more pleased, because I work on Sundays too.”
He further posed the question, “What do you do at home? How long can you look at your wife? How long can wives look at their husbands? Get to the office and begin working.”
These remarks from Subrahmanyan were met with criticism from Bollywood star Deepika Padukone, Harsh Goenka, Chairperson of the RPG Group, and former badminton star Jwala Gutta.
Following the backlash, the company stated that the Chairman's comments reflect a broader ambition for nation-building, emphasizing that extraordinary outcomes necessitate extraordinary efforts.
Health experts warn that overworking can heighten the risk of burnout and diminish workplace productivity. Moreover, personal lives and family relationships may suffer due to excessive work commitments. This can also disrupt sleep patterns, leading to increased risks of depression, anxiety, and stress. Consequently, these factors can elevate the likelihood of heart attacks, strokes, and premature death.
