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.

Larsen & Toubro (L&T) Chairman S.N. Subrahmanyan has stirred a controversy with his comments suggesting employees should work 90 hours a week and even on Sundays to remain competitive. A video of his remarks, reportedly from an internal interaction, surfaced on Reddit, drawing criticism on the platform.

In the video, asked why L&T required its employees to work on Saturdays, Mr Subrahmanyan 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.”

Mr Subrahmanyan then questioned what employees gained from taking time off at home. He said, “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.”

L&T CMD and work life balance
byu/Flat_Fun3806 inindiasocial

The L&T chief further shared an anecdote to justify his stance. He spoke of a conversation with a Chinese person who said that China could surpass the US because of the country’s strong work ethic. According to Mr Subrahmanyan, the Chinese person said, “Chinese people work 90 hours a week, while Americans work only 50 hours a week.” Drawing a parallel, Mr Subrahmanyan encouraged L&T employees to follow a similar work regimen.

“So that’s the answer for you. If you have got to be on top of the world, you have to work 90 hours a week,” an HT report quoted him as saying.

The video quickly gained traction on Reddit, where Mr Subrahmanyan’s comments were widely criticised. Many users compared his statements to Infosys founder Narayana Murthy’s recent call for Indian youth to work 70-hour weeks.

“I work in L&T and had to sit through this entire thing, imagine our horror! We blame Narayan Murthy for the 70-hour work week,” wrote a user.

Comment
byu/Flat_Fun3806 from discussion
inindiasocial

“Another CEO promoting slavery shamelessly,” read another comment.

Comment
byu/Flat_Fun3806 from discussion
inindiasocial

Users also questioned why CEOs, who are highly paid and have different job pressures, expect the same level of commitment from lower-paid employees. “Why don’t companies offer different types of working hours? What if a company had different options? 40 hours a week, 30 hours a week, 50 hours a week, 70 hours a week. More pay for more hours?” asked a user.

Comment
byu/Flat_Fun3806 from discussion
inindiasocial

Another user, expressing ire, wrote, “L&T is one of the worst when it comes to WLB and also pays peanuts. Even a tier one engineering graduate gets only 35k per month in hand after working for 6.5 days a week in some remote location devoid of even the basic facilities. During the first 12 months after joining, they only give 7 casual leaves. That means you can’t even go home once. More than 90% of campus hires leave the organisation within the first 3 years. 50-60 per cent leave in the first year itself.”

Comment
byu/Flat_Fun3806 from discussion
inindiasocial

Mr Subrahmanyan’s comments come at a time when mental health and work-life balance have become an important part of the discussion between employers and employees. In July 2024, the death of a 26-year-old Ernst & Young (EY) consultant brought attention to issues concerning work culture and job-related stress.