Jan 11, 2025
Narayana Murthy to Elon Musk: Business Leaders Who Support Long Work Hours
Work-life balance debates heat up as L&T's top boss justifies 90-hour work weeks, with business leaders like Elon Musk and Jack Ma advocating long hours
Work-life balance has become a priority, especially for Gen Z, with a 2023 Randstad study showing 57% would reject a job offer if it harmed their balance, prioritizing personal time over higher salaries
Larsen and Toubro's S.N. Subrahmanyan sparked outrage by advocating for 90-hour work weeks and working on Sundays, sharing an anecdote about China's work ethic surpassing the US
Narayana Murthy sparked debate in October 2023, advocating for 70-hour work weeks for young professionals in India to boost productivity and maintain global competitiveness
Murthy's comments sparked debate, with some supporting hard work for progress, while others criticized it as promoting an unhealthy work culture, raising concerns about long-term viability
Elon Musk advocates for 80-hour work weeks, stressing the need for sacrifice and contrasting U.S. work ethic with countries like China
Jack Ma defended China's "996" work schedule, calling it a "huge blessing" for passionate workers
Despite criticism, he emphasized that success requires dedication and enduring discomfort for long-term goals
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