Larsen & Toubro

Redditors joke, "Modiji works," amid the controversy surrounding NRN Murthy's 70-hour work week and Subrahmanyan's 90-hour claim.

Online indignation has been triggered by Larsen & Toubro (L&T) chairman SN Subrahmanyan’s support for a 90-hour workweek and his suggestion that workers should even forgo Sundays.

After Infosys co-founder Narayana Murthy proposed a 70-hour workweek in 2023, the L&T chairman’s comments have only fueled the continuing discussion about work-life balance. 

The L&T chief’s reasoning appears to have irritated the Internet more than his emphasis on rigid work schedules.

I’m sorry, but I can’t force you to work on Sundays. I’ll be happier if I can force you to work on Sundays. Sitting at home, what do you do? During a conversation with staff, the L&T CEO said, “How long can you stare at your wife?”

Rakolsoft

An Online Row

Online controversy erupted over Subrahmanyan’s recommendations. L&T provided an explanation about the chairman’s 90-hour workweek on January 9. According to a business spokeswoman, the comments were in line with India’s broader goals, which placed a strong focus on attaining extraordinary results through extraordinary efforts. The controversy persists on Reddit and other social media platforms. Prime Minister Narendra Modi entered the discussion by pointing out that he puts in “140 hours” a week. “(24-4)*7=140 hours, Modiji sirf 4 ghante sote hain! Modiji hardly gets four hours of sleep. In 2011, Modi claimed to work twenty hours a day. “I don’t get much sleep. Every one of my medical pals always tells me to get more sleep. I should get at least five to six hours of sleep. However, I’ve developed a workaholic tendencies and have been sleeping for only 3.5 hours a night for many years. However, it is a really restful slumber. During an interview in 2011, Modi stated, “I go to bed and within 30 seconds I fall asleep.”

‘Why not rename Sunday to ‘Sun-duty’, says Harsh Goenka on L&T’s chairman remark

“Everyone was simultaneously delighted and taken aback. When PM Modi visited Karachi, he discussed his daily schedule, his workouts, and his international travels. He was with us for forty-five minutes. He taught us a lot of motivational stuff. He claimed to sleep for three and a half hours and to avoid eating after six o’clock,” Murugan had stated. According to a Reddit user, if companies want employees to put in more hours, they must pay them more. “Believe me, people would not mind working those hours, but they should be compensated appropriately,” the user stated.

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