In less than 48 hours, SN Subrahmanyan, chairman of L&T, came under fire for his recent comments on working hours. A video has gone viral in which he talks about the need for employees to work 90 hours a week, even on Sundays, to remain competitive. This video, in which Subrahmanyan addresses a question about mandatory Saturday work, has sparked controversy among viewers about the impact of this work culture on employees’ mental health.

In the video, Subrahmanyan had responded to an employee’s question about mandatory work on Saturdays by saying, “I’m sorry I can’t make you work on Sundays, to be honest. If I can make you work on Sundays, I’ll be happier because I work too on Sundays… What are you doing sitting at home? How long can you watch your wife? Come, come to the office and start working.”

Unfortunately, Subrahmanyan is not the first industry leader to propose extended working hours in India, where a 48-hour work week is the norm and any additional hours are classified as overtime under the country’s labor regulations. Earlier, Infosys co-founder Narayana Murthy had suggested a 70-hour work week for Indians. But here are more names that the workers wanted out.

Elon Musk

Tesla CEO Elon Musk promoted the idea of ​​long working hours and eliminated remote work at all of his companies last year. According to Musk, putting in 80 to 100 hours a week consistently can increase your chances of success.

Musk emphasized that working more than the standard 40-hour week can lead to better results. In a tweet, he stated that significant changes and world-altering innovations are not made by working only 40 hours a week.

“There are much easier places to work, but no one ever changed the world in 40 hours a week,” Musk first said in 2018.

NR Narayana Murthy

In a 2023 interview, NR Narayana Murthy, the founder of Infosys, suggested that for India to be competitive with economies that have seen significant growth in recent decades, young people should commit to working 70 hours a week

He highlighted the need to improve labor productivity in India, calling it one of the lowest in the world. Addressing issues such as government corruption, bureaucratic delays and decision-making inefficiencies, he stressed the importance of overcoming these obstacles to succeed globally.

Drawing on his own experience of working 85 to 90 hours a week until retirement, the 78-year-old businessman urged the younger generation to prioritize their commitment to country by putting in long hours.

“India’s labor productivity is one of the lowest in the world. Unless we improve our labor productivity, unless we reduce corruption in government at some level, because we’ve been reading I don’t know the truth, unless we reduce the delays in our bureaucracy in making that decision, we won’t be able to compete with those countries that have made great progress,” he said.

Jack Ma

Jack Ma, the co-founder of Alibaba, expressed his support for China’s “996” work schedule, which involves working from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. six days a week. In 2019, Ma referred to this schedule as a “tremendous opportunity,” suggesting that people who are passionate about their careers see the ability to work extended hours as a privilege.

While facing criticism for advocating excessive working hours, Ma said those who are truly dedicated to their work would not see the “996” schedule as a burden. According to him, achieving success requires unwavering commitment and a willingness to endure temporary discomfort in pursuit of long-term goals.

Bhavish Aggawal

Ola CEO Bhavish Aggawal also expressed support for NR Narayana Murthy’s proposal for a 70-hour work week, dismissing the concept of work-life balance as a Western idea. Although he has faced backlash on social media for endorsing Murthy’s views, Aggarwal remained steadfast in his belief that hard work and sacrifice are necessary to propel India to become the best country in the world

In a podcast discussion, he said: “I received criticism for publicly supporting Mr. Murthy’s statement, but I remain unwavering in my belief that dedication and perseverance are essential to achieving our goal of becoming the ‘leading economy’.

Aadit Palicha

Aadit Palicha, Zepto’s 22-year-old co-founder and CEO, acknowledged in a statement last year that his team puts a significant amount of time into their work, putting in 80 to 100 hours a week. He noted that, in retrospect, they could have achieved the same results with less stress by working half the hours. Palicha stressed that beyond a certain point, the pursuit of money becomes less important. He attributed his team’s willingness to work long hours to their passion for building Zepto and the excitement of the challenge.

“Honestly, working 80 to 100 hours a week, we probably could have worked half that with a lot less stress … At a certain point, the money becomes inconsequential,” he said.

Shantanu Deshpande

In a recent LinkedIn post, Shantanu Deshpande, CEO of Bombay Shaving Company, emphasized the importance of putting in the work during the early years of your career. Deshpande advised young professionals to prioritize their work over leisure activities, putting in long hours and focusing on their professional development.

Deshpande wrote: “When you’re 22 and new to your job, go for it. Eat well and stay fit, but put in 18 hour days for at least 4-5 years. I see a lot of young people watching random content everywhere and convincing themselves that “work life balance, spending time with family, rejuvenation blah blah” is important. It is, but not so soon. So soon, love your job… Don’t do random rona-dhona. Take it on the chin and be relentless. You’ll be so much better for it.”

He later apologized: “To those who were hurt by my message, I apologize for the same. I recognize the need for nuance and context.”

Hours versus productivity

The idea that longer working hours directly correlate with higher productivity and economic growth is being challenged by recent research. Narayan Murthy said India should emulate China, known for its average annual working hours of 2,169 and a GDP per capita of $14,129. However, Our World In Data data suggests that factors such as levels of development and industry play a larger role in a country’s economic output.

Countries like India and Bangladesh, where people work longer hours than in Western countries, have lower GDP per capita figures. For example, Indians work an average of 2,123 hours per year, but have a GDP per capita of $6,711, indicating that working longer hours does not necessarily lead to economic prosperity.

In addition, alternative research, such as a Stanford University study, contradicts the idea that longer work hours contribute to greater prosperity and economic productivity. In fact, the study shows that working more than 49 hours a week can lead to a decrease in workforce productivity.