Sanjeev Sanyal Critiques Corporate Leaders on Extended Work Hours

New Delhi, Jan 12 (NationPress) Sanjeev Sanyal, a member of the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister (EAC-PM), expressed his concerns on Sunday, stating that corporate leaders have “gone into silliness” with their demands for prolonged working hours.

In a statement shared on the social media platform X, Sanyal noted that “it seems the 80-hour work week trend is gaining traction.”

He remarked, “American investment banks are pushing this as a standard practice. Having experienced that environment, I can affirm that corporate leaders have indeed descended into absurdity. While there are moments when such hours might be necessary, suggesting that this should be the ‘norm’ implies it is a target to achieve.”

Sanyal went on to highlight the challenges of enforcing such hours and the potential decline in quality that may arise from a moral hazard in monitoring. “In investment banks that foster this culture, employees often resort to completing personal tasks during office hours – going to the gym, enjoying lengthy lunches, or meeting friends under the guise of ‘meetings’, etc. This is how the City of London and Wall Street operate,” he stated.

He added, “Only a handful of dedicated individuals actually adhere to the 80-hour regimen and face burnout. It is primarily senior managers who can endure 80-hour work weeks because systems are constructed to support them (including not just salary, but also secretaries, assistants, etc.). The rest need a life.”

The discussion surrounding work-life balance was initially sparked by Infosys founder Narayana Murthy and was further fueled by Larsen & Toubro (L&T) Chairman, SN Subrahmanyan.

While Murthy advocates for a 70-hour work week, Subrahmanyan has suggested that employees should aim for a 90-hour week, including Sundays, to maintain competitiveness, leading to significant backlash.

Subrahmanyan’s comments faced criticism from various public figures, including Bollywood icon Deepika Padukone, RPG Group Chairperson Harsh Goenka, and former Indian badminton champion Jwala Gutta.

Following the criticism, the company clarified that the Chairman’s remarks embody a broader aspiration for nation-building, stating that “extraordinary outcomes require extraordinary effort.”