L&T Defends Chairman SN Subrahmanyan's Remark On 90-Hour Work Week

The controversy sparked after a video surfaced on Reddit, in which Subrahmanyan, during an internal discussion, encouraged employees to work on Sundays and questioned the necessity of time off

The video, which quickly went viral on Reddit, has sparked intense debate, with many users expressing strong resentment

Source : LTIMindtree

Larsen & Toubro (L&T) has defended the remarks made by its chairman SN Subrahmanyan supporting a 90-hour workweek. The conglomerate said that to achieve extraordinary outcomes one must put in extraordinary efforts. Subrahmanyan is receiving widespread criticism for comments during a video call which has now gone viral.

“At L&T, 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 realise our shared vision of becoming a developed nation. The chairman’s remarks reflect this larger ambition, emphasising that extraordinary outcomes require extraordinary effort. At L&T, we remain committed to fostering a culture where passion, purpose, and performance drive us forward,” an L&T spokesperson told CNBC-TV18.

The controversy sparked after a video surfaced on Reddit, in which Subrahmanyan, during an internal discussion, encouraged employees to work on Sundays and questioned the necessity of time off. In response to a question about the mandatory Saturday work, Subrahmanyan was seen saying, "I regret I am not able to make you work on Sundays. If I can make you work on Sundays, I will be happier because I work on Sundays also. What do you do sitting at home? How long can you stare at your wife? How long can the wife stare at your husband? Get to the office and start working.”

Subrahmanyan backed his views by sharing an anecdote from a conversation with a Chinese professional, claiming that "Chinese people work 90 hours a week, while Americans work only 50 hours a week. If you have got to be on top of the world, you have to work 90 hours a week."

The video, which quickly went viral on Reddit, has sparked intense debate, with many users expressing strong resentment. His remarks were also compared to those made by Infosys founder Narayana Murthy, who recently suggested that young professionals should work 70 hours a week in order to achieve their goals.