As the debate over the 90-hour work week is still going on, BharatPe CEO Nalin Negi has said that the quality of work is a more important measure of employee productivity than the number of hours worked. He stressed that his fintech firm does not expect such extreme work hours.
Negi's comments are particularly relevant as they come at a time when corporate India is facing scrutiny over long work hour expectations, following L&T Chairman SN Subrahmanyan's recent regret over not being able to have staff work on Sundays. In an interview with PTI, Negi highlighted that the quality of work is "paramount," rather than the sheer number of hours spent on the job.
"Ninety hours is quite a number of hours to put in, and becomes very difficult. So I would say (it is about) quality... quality matters," Negi said.
The BharatPe CEO noted that the debate around work-life balance has always existed. "Young organisations can foster career trajectory in a very, very different way, because you have different people. Larger companies have built this over a period of time, they have people and attract talent of a similar nature, (in a) cookie-cutter approach," he said.
"We are six years old, and I would definitely like BharatPe to be known as an employee-friendly company, a company that offers careers to people, not jobs. So our focus is on that," he said.
The company does not support a 90-hour workweek, Negi said, adding, "I don't think...90 hours is possible."
"A happy employee will give you a lot... someone who is involved and enjoying his or her job, if they have something (urgent), they will do it. You don't even have to follow it up," he said.
Earlier this month, Larsen & Toubro Ltd Chairman sparked a debate by suggesting a 90-hour workweek, including Sundays, to maximize productivity. The proposal quickly sparked outrage on social media, with many questioning the fairness and ethics of such a demanding work model. Public figures from various sectors weighed in on the debate, with many expressing concerns about the excessive work hour narrative, while some supported the "hustle culture."
RPG Enterprises Chairman Harsh Goenka took to X to share his reservations, stating, "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!"
Marico Ltd Chairman Harsh Mariwala also posted on X, saying, "Undeniably, hard work is the backbone of success, but it is not about the hours clocked in. It's about the quality and passion one brings to those hours."
ITC Ltd Chairman Sanjiv Puri recently stressed that empowering employees to realise their potential and accomplish their jobs effectively is more important than the number of hours worked.
The debate over long work hours and work-life balance has resurfaced repeatedly. Earlier, Infosys co-founder NR Narayana Murthy suggested that young professionals should be prepared to work 70 hours a week to increase productivity.