90-hour work week: Amid the ongoing debates about the work culture in India, an accountant has come forward to share his personal experience with the rush culture. Nitu Mohanka, who has gone from being a successful accountant to a mindset coach, recently took to Instagram to express her thoughts on the negative impact of hustle culture on personal life amid discussions in the around the 90-hour work week.

In his post, Mohanka highlighted how the lure of hustle culture often leads individuals to prioritize work over important milestones in their personal lives. She recalled a time when she herself fell into the trap of working long hours and sacrificing precious moments with her family. It was only when her youngest daughter drew a family picture without her, citing her absence due to work commitments, that Mohanka realized the toll the hustle culture was taking on her life.

“Hustle culture is seductive. But the promise of ‘grind now, enjoy later’ is rarely fulfilled,” Mohanka wrote on social media platform Instagram. “10 years ago, I was this person. Wear 14-hour workdays like a badge of honor. Answering emails at 3am. I miss my daughter’s first steps because “the client meeting couldn’t wait.” You know what finally stopped me? A drawing by my 5 year old son. A family photo where I wasn’t there. When her teacher asked her why, she said, “Mom is always in the office.”

These reflections serve as a poignant reminder of the importance of maintaining a healthy work-life balance and prioritizing personal well-being amid the pressures of a demanding work culture.

Mohanka’s post was against the backdrop of recent events following L&T chairman SN Subrahmanyan’s controversial comments proposing a 90-hour work week. In a widely circulated video of an undisclosed internal meeting, Subrahmanyan expressed his disappointment over the impossibility of employees working on Sundays.

In his post, Mohanka stressed that extended hours may not always be beneficial. He noted that efficiency declines markedly after exceeding 55 hours of work per week, as extended hours can lead to fatigue, reduced innovation and strained interpersonal connections.

90 hours vs. 70 hours

In a widely shared video, Larsen & Toubro chairman SN Subrahmanyan has faced criticism for proposing that employees work 90-hour weeks, which would include working on Sundays.

During a discussion with employees, Subrahmanyan expressed his frustration at not being able to have staff working seven days a week, jokingly questioning what employees do when they’re not in the office and suggesting they should come in and start to work instead of staying at home.

He mentioned his willingness to work on Sundays and expressed a desire for employees to do so, stating that it would make him happier.

Subrahmanyan’s comments, reminiscent of Narayana Murthy’s earlier controversial comments about a 70-hour work week, have sparked discussions online about the importance of maintaining a healthy work-life balance in India’s private sector .

In a statement, a company spokesperson said, “At L&T, nation-building is at the core of our mandate. For more than eight decades, we have been shaping India’s infrastructure, industries and technology capabilities .We believe that this is India’s decade, a time that demands collective dedication and effort to drive progress and realize our shared vision of becoming a developed nation. The President’s remarks reflect this greater ambition, emphasizing that extraordinary results require extraordinary effort. At L&T, we remain committed to fostering a culture where passion, purpose and performance drive us forward.”