The debate over Larsen & Toubro (L&T) Chairman SN Subrahmanyan’s call for a 90-hour work week has sparked varied responses from corporate leaders and CEOs. Subrahmanyan’s controversial remark, captured in a video circulating on Reddit, questioned employees working from home. He asked, “What do you do sitting at home? How long can you stare at your wife? Come on, get to the office and start working.”
In an interview, Anand Mahindra responded with humor, taking a dig at the comments. “My wife is wonderful, and I love staring at her,” he said.
Adding to the lighthearted exchange, Serum Institute CEO Adar Poonawalla remarked, “Yes, Anand Mahindra, even my wife Natasha Poonawalla thinks I am wonderful; she loves staring at me on Sundays.”
View the post below
Yes @anandmahindra, even my wife @NPoonawalla thinks i am wonderful, she loves staring at me on Sundays. Quality of work over quantity always. #worklifebalance pic.twitter.com/5Lr1IjOB6r
— Adar Poonawalla (@adarpoonawalla) January 12, 2025
“Quality of work over quantity always,” Anand Mahindra added when asked about the number of hours he works in a day. “Ask me about the quality of my work, not how many hours I work,” he had responded.
L&T chairman’s controversial 90-hour work week remark
During a now-viral video of an employee interaction, L&T Chairman SN Subrahmanyan was questioned about why his multi-billion-dollar company continues to require employees to work on Saturdays. In response, he doubled down on his stance, expressing his preference for employees to work on Sundays as well.
“I regret I am not able to make you work on Sundays. If I can make you work on Sundays, I will be more happy, because I work on Sundays,” he said.
The statement sparked backlash on social media, with users criticizing the chairman for disregarding the importance of work-life balance for his employees.
In response to the criticism, L&T issued a statement explaining that the chairman’s remarks were driven by a “larger ambition.”
“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. The Chairman’s remarks reflect this larger ambition, emphasizing that extraordinary outcomes require extraordinary effort,” said a report from Hindustan Times.
