The debate continues over the suggestion of SN Subramanian, chairman of engineering and manufacturing company Larsen & Toubro (L&T), to work 90 hours a week. Industry stalwarts like Harsh Mariwala, Harsh Goenka and Rajiv Bajaj have said that work-life balance is not optional but necessary and working hard to be successful does not depend on working hours. They suggested that if the suggested practice of working long hours is to be followed, it has to start from the top.

Annual package of Rs 51.05 crore

L&T Chairman SN Subramanian, while advocating a 90-hour work week, had asked 'how long can you stare at your wife'. He suggested that employees should also take leave on Sundays. His statement was met with sharp comments on social media. After Subramanian's comment, his salary package has attracted the attention of social media users. Subramanian's salary package was Rs 51.05 crore as per the company's 2023-24 annual report. This was 534.57 times the average remuneration of the company's employees.

'Change the name of Sunday to Sun-Duty'

RPG Enterprises chairman Harsh Goenka wrote on social media platform 'X', "90 hours a week? Why not rename Sunday as 'sun-duty' and make 'vacation' a fictitious concept!" Goenka expressed his opposition to the concept. He said, "I believe in working hard and smartly, but converting life into constant office hours? This is a recipe for burnout, not success. Work-life balance is not optional, it is essential. Well, this is my view."

'Start it at the top'

Joining the debate, Harsh Mariwala, chairman of Marico Ltd, wrote on 'X', "There is no doubt that hard work is the backbone of success, but it is not about the hours worked. It is about the quality and passion shown in those hours." He added, "To truly engage and inspire our youth we need to ensure they are given roles that not only challenge them but also promote growth and learning. When a person sees a path where hard work translates into a promising future, they are naturally inclined to give their best." Sharing his views on '90 hours a week' with a TV channel, Rajiv Bajaj, managing director of Bajaj Auto, said, "Start it at the top and if it works as a proof of concept, implement it down." He said that measuring working hours is archaic and backwards.