Uproar over 90-hour work regimen: L&T mends damages, stresses 'nation building at core'

Larsen & Toubro (L&T) has defended its chairman, SN Subrahmanyan, amid criticism of his controversial remarks advocating for employees to work on Sundays and clock 90-hour workweeks. The comments, shared in an undated video that surfaced on Reddit, have drawn significant backlash online.

Also Read: Narayana Murthy defends 70-hour workweek, urges hard work for India’s growth

Addressing employees during a recent interaction, Subrahmanyan highlighted the company’s six-day workweek and suggested a more demanding schedule. He remarked, “I regret I am not able to make you work on Sundays... because I work on Sundays,” and controversially asked, “What do you do sitting at home? How long can you stare at your wife? Come on, get to the office and start working.”

The chairman also cited a conversation with a Chinese individual who claimed that China’s 90-hour workweeks could outpace America’s 50-hour norm. Subrahmanyan urged employees to adopt a similar approach, stating, “If you have got to be on top of the world, you have to work 90 hours a week.”

In response to the uproar, L&T emphasized its commitment to nation-building and extraordinary effort, calling the remarks reflective of a larger ambition for India’s progress.

The statements echo similar sentiments from Infosys co-founder Narayana Murthy, who recently advocated for 70-hour workweeks. Both have sparked widespread debate on work-life balance, with critics calling such expectations unsustainable and harmful to employee well-being.