'Make 'Day Off' A Mythical Concept!': Harsh Goenka Responds To L&T Chairman’s '90-Hour Work-Week' Remark

Marico founder and chairman Harsh Mariwala also disagreed with Subrahmanyan's remark. "Undeniably, hard work is the backbone of success, but it is not about the hours clocked in"

Billionaire and RPG Group’s chairperson Harsh Goenka took to X (formerly Twitter) to respond to Larsen & Toubro (L&T) Chairman SN Subrahmanyan's comment, which suggested that employees should work 90 hours a week, including Sundays, to remain competitive.

In his post on X on Thursday, Goenka wrote, "90 hours a week? Why not rename Sunday to 'Sun-duty' and make 'day off' a mythical concept! 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! #WorkSmartNotSlave."

In an undated video, Subrahmanyan was responding to an employee's question about the company's mandate 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... What do you do sitting at home? How long can you stare at your wife? Come on, get to the office and start working."

Marico founder and chairman Harsh Mariwala also disagreed with Subrahmanyan's remark. "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… When young professionals are passionate and see purpose in what they do, the need to 'balance' becomes a harmonious blend of personal and professional fulfillment," he wrote on X on Thursday.

After Subrahmanyan faced backlash for his comment, L&T issued a statement clarifying his remarks. "Nation-building is at the core of our mandate. For over eight decades, we have been shaping India’s infrastructure, industries, and technological capabilities. We believe this is India’s decade, a time demanding collective dedication and effort to drive progress and realize our shared vision of becoming a developed nation. The chairman’s remarks reflect this larger ambition," the statement read.