New Delhi:

Larsen & Toubro (L&T) Head HR Sonica Muraleedharan defended Chairman SN Subrahmanyan after his remarks about wanting employees to work for 90 hours a week invoked a massive debate across the country. Amid the ongoing controversy that prompted responses from even celebrities, Ms Muraleedharan said that the chairman’s remarks were “misinterpreted” and taken out of context.

“It’s truly disheartening to see how the words of our MD & Chairman, SN Subrahmanyan (SNS) have been taken out of context, leading to misunderstandings and unnecessary criticism. Having been present during the internal address, I can confidently state that SNS never implied or mandated 90-hour work weeks,” she said in a post on LinkedIn.

According to the HR, Mr Subrahmanyan’s remarks were “casual in nature”.

Vouching for his leadership style, Ms Muraleedharan said, “He treats every employee as part of an extended family, fostering a sense of unity and belonging that’s rare in today’s corporate world”.

“SNS is, without question, a leader who genuinely cares for his team’s well-being. He consistently demonstrates an exceptional ability to balance his demanding professional commitments while creating a nurturing and empowering environment for his team. Working under his leadership has been more than just a job – it has been a transformative experience, akin to participating in a living masterclass on leadership, where every interaction imparts valuable life lessons,” she added.

Ms Muraleedharan further urged people to take a step back and fully understand the context and intent behind the L&T Chairman’s words.

“Leaders like SNS inspire positive change and growth, and it’s vital to recognize their efforts rather than misinterpret them. Instead of focusing on controversy, let’s celebrate and support leaders who empower, motivate, and elevate their teams, leaving a lasting, positive impact on the organization as a whole,” she said.

Mr Subrahmanyan sparked a huge outrage last week after he suggested employees should work 90 hours a week and even on Sundays to remain competitive.

“How long can you stare at your wife,” Mr Subrahmanyan is heard saying in a purported video address.

When he was asked why L&T required its employees to work on Saturdays, he said, “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.”

These comments drew sharp responses on social media, including from actor Deepika Padukone who said that it is “shocking to see people in such senior positions make such statements”. Serum Institute of India CEO Adar Poonawalla, RPG Group Chairman Harsh Goenka, and Mahindra Group Chairman Anand Mahindra also mocked the 90-hour workweek idea.

Social media users also compared Mr Subrahmanyan to Infosys founder Narayana Murthy, who last year called for people to work for 70 hours a week.

Serum Institute of India CEO Adar Poonawalla has weighed in on the ongoing debate about work-life balance, advocating for the importance of quality over the quantity of work hours. Mr Poonawalla, in a social media post, echoed Mahindra Group Chairman Anand Mahindra’s sentiment, saying, “Yes [Anand Mahindra], even my wife [Natasha Poonawalla] thinks I am wonderful, she loves staring at me on Sundays. Quality of work over quantity always. Work life balance.”

Yes @anandmahindra, even my wife @NPoonawalla thinks i am wonderful, she loves staring at me on Sundays. Quality of work over quantity always. #worklifebalance pic.twitter.com/5Lr1IjOB6r

— Adar Poonawalla (@adarpoonawalla) January 12, 2025

His comment, made on X, followed Mr Mahindra’s recent remarks saying that it’s not about working 48, 70, or 90 hours a week, but rather the output produced. “My wife is wonderful, I love staring at her,” Mr Mahindra had said, taking a dig at Larsen & Toubro (L&T) Chairman SN Subrahmanyan’s latest comments.

Mr Subrahmanyan recently sparked backlash with his suggestion that employees should work 90-hour weeks, even on Sundays, to remain competitive. He said that he regretted that L&T employees weren’t working on Sundays, saying, “If I can make you work on Sundays, I will be more happy, because I work on Sundays also.”

He further 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.”

Mr Subrahmanyan’s comments also drew criticism from other quarters, including RPG Group Chairman Harsh Goenka, who mocked the suggestion of a 90-hour workweek, calling it a “recipe for burnout, not success.” Mr Goenka said, “Why not rename Sunday to ‘Sun-duty’ and make ‘day off’ a mythical concept!” He added that work-life balance isn’t optional and urged people to “work smart, not slave.”

Former Indian badminton star Jwala Gutta also strongly criticised Mr Subrahmanyan’s comments, labelling them “misogynistic.” On social media, Ms Gutta questioned why spending time with one’s spouse should be seen as a problem, asking, “Why shouldn’t he stare at his wife… and why only on a Sunday?”

The debate has even drawn attention from actor and mental health advocate Deepika Padukone, who called the remarks “shocking” coming from someone in a senior position.

Infosys founder Narayana Murthy has also previously argued in favour of long workweeks, suggesting that employees should be prepared for up to 70-hour workweeks.

New Delhi:

Bajaj Auto Managing Director Rajiv Bajaj has weighed in on the 90-hour work-week debate, which was recently triggered by Larsen & Toubro (L&T) chairman SN Subrahmanyan, and suggested that the practice of working for long hours – if at all required to be followed – must start from the top.

“If you want a 90-hour week, start from the top,” Mr Bajaj told CNBC-TV18 on Friday.

“Number of hours of work doesn’t matter, quality of work does. We need a kinder, gentler world more than ever before,” he added.

“The bottleneck is always at the top of the bottle,” Mr Bajaj said as he requested leaders to rethink their strategies, improve decision-making, and empower employees to achieve better outcomes.

His remarks come days after SN Subrahmanyan sparked an online outrage with his comments suggesting employees should work 90 hours a week and even on Sundays to remain competitive.

 “How long can you stare at your wife,” Mr Subrahmanyan is heard saying in a purported video address to employees where he urged them to spend less time at home and more in the office.

Asked why L&T required its employees to work on Saturdays, he said, “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.”

His comments, however, drew sharp responses on social media, with many users comparing him to Infosys founder Narayana Murthy, who last year also called for Indian youth to work for 70 hours a week.

Mr Bajaj, however, differed and said putting in enough work is important – whether it’s 70 or 90 hours – but the focus should be on the “quality, efficiency, and effectiveness” of those hours.

“That is more critical than the sheer number of hours,” he said.

RPG Enterprises Chairman Harsh Goenka also joined the debate and said the work-life balance is “essential”.

“90 hours a week? Why not rename Sunday to ‘Sun-duty’ and make ‘day off’ a mythical concept!” he posted on X.

“Working hard and smart is what I believe in, but turning life into a perpetual office shift? That’s a recipe for burnout, not success. Work-life balance isn’t optional, it’s essential. Well, that’s my view! #WorkSmartNotSlave”,” Mr Goenka said.