Larsen & Toubro (L&T) Chairman S.N. Subrahmanyan has taken corporate wisdom to the next level—by suggesting employees should clock 90 hours a week. Yes, 90 hours. For those clutching their coffee cups dreading their 40-hour grind, welcome to what Subrahmanyan calls the ultimate productivity hack. At an employee interaction, he posed the ultimate icebreaker: “How long can you stare at your wife, and your wife stare at you?" The solution? Stare at Excel sheets instead.
Citing global competition, Subrahmanyan claimed China works 90 hours a week while Americans lag behind at a mere 50, His regret? That Sundays aren't vet mandatory office days. “If I could make you work Sundays, I'd be happier)” he said, presumably from his weekend cubicle.
This “revolutionary” take sparked an online backlash, RPG Group’s Harsh Goenka joked. “Why not rename Sunday to ‘Sun-duty’ and make ‘day off” a mythical concept?” Meanwhile, Bolly- ‘wood star and mental health advocate Deepika Padukone Ramanyan’s remarks, calling them “shocking” and reminding everyone that, yes, #MentalHealthMatters.
But is this really a road to success or just burnout with extra steps? Critics reposted Subrahmanyan’s comments to Narayana Murthy's earlier call for young professionals to slog through 70-hour weeks.
Both seem to miss the memo that productivity isn't measured in hours logged but in output achieved—and, frankly, a well-rested mind. And the kicker? Subrahmanyan's FY 2024 pay packet of #51 crore (or 534 times the median L&T employee's salary) makes his relationship with work-life balance a tad different from that of the average office-goer. While he's urging workers to give up Sundays, one can't help but wonder if his 80-hour workweek includes waiting for his corporate jet to refuel.
Let's face it: the idea of replacing family dinners with office snacks is more dystopian than competitive. As Goenlka wisely put it, working “smart, not slave” is the real recipe for suceess. After all, staring at spreadsheets might win you a pat on the back, but staring at vour wife occasionally? That's priceless.
