SN Subrahmanyan, Chairman of Larsen & Toubro (L&T), is facing severe criticism after suggesting that employees work 90 hours a week, including Sundays, to stay competitive. His remarks, made during an internal meeting, were shared in a video on social media platforms and quickly went viral, drawing widespread condemnation.
In the undated video, Subrahmanyan responded to a question about the company’s mandate for employees to work on Saturdays, claiming that he would be even happier if employees worked on Sundays. “I regret I am not able to make you work on Sundays, to be honest. If I can make you work on Sundays, I will be more happy because I work on Sundays also,” he stated.
Challenging the need for time off, Subrahmanyan questioned, “What do you do sitting at home? How long can you stare at your wife? How long can the wives stare at their husbands? Get to the office and start working.”
The chairman went on to compare India’s work culture with that of China. Recalling a conversation with a Chinese professional, he said, “Chinese people work 90 hours a week, while Americans work only 50 hours a week.” Subrahmanyan urged L&T employees to adopt a similar work ethic, saying, “If you have got to be on top of the world, you have to work 90 hours a week.”
Subrahmanyan’s comments have reignited concerns about corporate attitudes toward employees’ well-being, particularly regarding the pressure to work excessively long hours. The debate touches on the growing importance of work-life balance and mental health in the modern workplace. While some argue that such demands drive economic growth and productivity, others contend that they compromise mental health and quality of life.
In response to the uproar on the social media platforms, a spokesperson from L&T clarified Subrahmanyan’s comments, stating that the chairman’s remarks reflect the company’s broader vision for nation-building and progress. “At L&T, nation-building is at the core of our mandate. The Chairman’s remarks reflect this larger ambition, emphasising that extraordinary outcomes require extraordinary effort,” the spokesperson said. They further added, “At L&T, we remain committed to fostering a culture where passion, purpose, and performance drive us forward.”
The controversy over the 90-hour work week continues to fuel discussions about employee expectations, corporate culture, and the balance between productivity and personal well-being in today’s competitive business environment.
On January 10, 2025, L&T share price closed up by 0.19% higher at ₹3,535.25, while the BSE benchmark Sensex ended down by 241.30 points to 77,378.91. L&T’s share price reached a 52-week high of ₹3,963 on December 10, 2024, and a 52-week low of ₹3,175.500 on June 05, 2025. As per BSE, the total traded volume for the stock stood at 1.90 lakh shares with a turnover of ₹67.02 crore.
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Published on: Jan 10, 2025, 5:36 PM IST
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