In October 2023 NR Narayana murthy, cofounder of Infosys, one of India’s largest IT service companies, sparked a heated discussion when he suggested Indians work 70 hours a week to boost their productivity and economic growth.
His comments sparked widespread discussion about the work-life-balance and employee wellbeing in Indian workplaces.
Murthy remained firm despite the controversy.
He reiterated his view in an interview with CNBC TV18 in November after the controversy seemed to be over.
A similar statement made by SN. Subrahmanyan last week, the chairman of Larsen & Toubro, one of India’s biggest multinational conglomerates specializing on engineering, procurement and construction (EPC), reignited the debate.
Subrahmanyan, while addressing his employees, was asked about the company’s Saturday-working policy.
However, his response went one step further.
“I am sorry that I cannot make you work on Sundays. If I could make you work Sundays, it would make me happier because I also work Sundays. What do you do at home? How long can your wife stare at you? “Come on, go to work and get busy.”
Subrahmanyan shared anecdotes about a conversation with a Chinese person who said that China was on the verge of surpassing the United States due to its workers clocking 90 hours per week as opposed to Americans’ 50 hour workweeks.
He used this example to encourage his employees to work 90-hour weeks if they wanted to be at the top of their game. Get going, guys.”
L&T Chairman SN Subrahmanyan sparks outrage with his statement
Subrahmanyan’s comments have prompted a wide range of reactions, both from mental health advocates and industry peers.
Deepika Padukone is a prominent Indian actress, mental health advocate, and the leader of The Live Love Laugh Foundation. She described the remarks made by the senior leaders as “shocking” and stressed the need for them to adopt a more balanced tone.
Anand Mahindra – chairman of Mahindra Group, one of India’s biggest business conglomerates that is a major player within the automobile industry – gave a measured reply:
We need to concentrate on quality, not quantity. It is not about working 40, 70, or 90-hour weeks. “What matters is output and value created.”
Mahindra also noted that significant results could be achieved within just 10 hours of concentrated work.
L&T issued a statement in response to the criticism, defending its chairman:
At L&T, building a nation is the core of our mission. Over the past eight decades, L&T has shaped India’s industries, infrastructure, and technological capability.”
We consider this the decade of India, a time when we must all work together to make progress and realize our vision for a developed country. The Chairman’s remarks reflect the larger ambition and emphasize that extraordinary results require extraordinary efforts.
What are the precedents from Japan, China and South Korea?
Subrahmanyan Murthy is not the only one who advocates for longer working hours to increase economic growth.
The experiences of the developed Asian economies have shown the serious consequences of such practices.
In Japan, excessively lengthy working hours have had a negative impact on employee health and well-being. Many cases even led to suicide.
This phenomenon is known as “karoshi,” which translates into “death due to overwork”.
Around 2,900 Japanese people will commit suicide in 2023 due to issues related to their jobs.
In 2018, the Japanese government, realizing the severity of the situation introduced the “Work Style Reform Law”, which aims to reduce excessive overtime.
In response, data from the government showed that in 2022 only 9% workers would clock more than 60 hours a week, a figure which has been halved during the last two decades.
It also seems that the younger generation of Japan is reevaluating their priorities.
Only 30% of Japanese young people now think it important to climb the corporate ladder, according to the Japan Research Institute.
Many people have prioritized a rewarding job and the joys of collaboration.
The Tokyo Review
Subrahmanyan, in his admiration of Chinese work culture overlooks some of its flaws.
China’s startup and tech sectors have popularized a “996” culture where employees work six days a weeks from 9 am to 9 pm, totaling 72 hours.
While widespread, this practice violates Chinese labor law, which requires a 40-hour week.
Major companies such as Huawei, Alibaba and ByteDance are facing widespread criticism after promoting this unrelenting schedule. This has been linked with burnout and declining mental wellbeing.
The phenomenon of “gwarosa”, or death by overwork, is a common occurrence in South Korea. It’s one of the world’s countries with the highest working hours.
The South Korean government recently faced criticism after it proposed to increase the maximum number of hours worked per week from 52 to 70.
The government was forced to reconsider the decision after Millennials, Gen Z and Gen X workers voiced their opposition.
Gaurav Bhagat is the Managing Director of Consortium Gifts.
After observing the negative impact on mental health and productivity, countries such as South Korea and Japan have shifted their focus to promoting a work-life balance.
Mental health costs
India is one of the countries with the most overworked workers in the world.
According to the International Labour Organization (ILO), the average Indian worker works 46,7 hours per week.
India is ranked second in the world with its extended work hours. 51% of the workforce works 49 hours or more per week.
The results of a 2024 Deloitte study highlighted the effects of this intense workplace culture.
The study revealed that 56% Indian employees cited burnout as the primary concern. 70% of them preferred employers who prioritized mental health and wellness.
Poor mental health has a staggering financial impact. Deloitte’s 2022 Mental Health Survey revealed that Indian employers lost approximately $14 billion per year due to employee attrition, absenteeism and lower productivity linked to mental health issues.
Vidya Khan is a psychologist and hypnotherapist. She also coaches somatic energy.
She told ICD that “overwork reduces sleep and increases stress. It also leads to an increase in cortisol.”
This leads to hormonal imbalances, a reduced connection with family members causing oxytocin differences, a neglected self-care leading to chronic illness, and lower levels endorphins or serotonin. It disrupts the neurological, hormonal and digestive systems, as well as the immune system.
Khan warned that, if the issues are not addressed, “a massive pandemic of collective burnout in the future years” could result.
Staffing firms can provide valuable insight that serves as a barometer to understand employer preferences in selecting the best candidates.
Avsar is a provider of recruitment services. They reveal that clients are looking for “flexibility”, as well as a strong work ethic, and adaptability.
While flexibility is essential, especially in dynamic industries like technology, it’s also important for employees to be able to manage their workload effectively without having excessive working hours. Navneet Sing, the founder and CEO of Avsar told that clients are looking for professionalism, resilience in stressful situations, and a proactive attitude to problem solving.
Why employees can’t work as long as top leaders
Top leaders dismiss concerns about mental health when they ask employees to work more hours.
They often cite as an example their own work, establishing it as the norm.
What is often overlooked are the support systems in place to ease the burden of these workers, and their generous compensation.
Sanjeev Sanyal is an economist and a member of the Economic Advisory Council for the Prime Minister. He addressed this issue on X.
Only very senior managers are able to maintain 80-hour workweeks because the systems have been designed for them (not only pay but also secretaries and assistants). “The rest need to have a life.”
Subrahmanyan received Rs 51 crores in remuneration during FY24. This is a 43% rise compared to the FY23.
The average salary for non-managerial staff at L&T in FY24 increased just 1.74% despite a 20.38% increase in managerial remuneration.
According to the latest L&T annual report, they attributed this increase to increased profits and commission rates.
Over the past five years, the median annual salary for employees has only increased by Rs 1,44 lakh.
The Economic Times
Harsh Goenka of RPG Enterprises highlighted the disparity in compensation to highlight the difficulties of implementing a 90- or 70-hour workweek.
He acknowledged that, while these statements are made from a “deep commitment to India’s progress,” the may not be in line with values held by today’s workers.
While top executives and owners receive significant financial rewards, most employees do not. Goenka stated that this disparity makes it hard to justify longer workweeks for everyone.
Indian labor law also supports work-life harmony. The Factories Act 1948 and the state-specific Shops and Establishments Acts limit working hours to 48 per week. Overtime pay is required for employees who are not exempt.
These provisions are crucial in protecting the well-being and productivity of employees, especially blue-collar workers, and they must be maintained. Simantika Mukherjee is the Group CHRO at Tribeca Developers in India, a prominent developer of real estate. She said that for white-collar workers, “the conversation is evolving.”
How to boost productivity without burning out
Experts and industry leaders agree that we are past the age of equating working long hours with productivity.
Bhagat says that India should not focus solely on increasing the number hours worked. Instead, it should boost productivity by focusing on skill development, technology and innovation, as well as fostering a culture for innovation.
In my experience, companies that invest in employee wellbeing and upskilling have a higher retention rate of 35% and an increase in output of 20%. Bhagat said that the future is not about working harder but rather smarter. He emphasized creating an environment in which ambition and well-being can coexist.
Goenka agrees, adding that leaders should cultivate a culture that encourages employees to flourish on their terms, rather than prescribing an exact number of hours.
Goenka: “India’s success story requires dedication and effort. But it also demands a workforce which is creative, motivated and mentally healthy.”
Is India ready to adopt the 90-hour week proposed by L&T Chairman? This post may be updated as new information becomes available
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