Why India’s corporate leaders need a reality check on work culture
As the PR team at Larsen & Toubro scrambles to contain the fallout from Chairman S.N. Subrahmanyam’s latest foot-in-mouth remark—“What do you do sitting at home? How long can you stare at your wife?”—social media refuses to let the issue die down.
His deep regret that he can’t make employees work on Sundays has my deepest sympathies! The struggle of a billionaire longing for his workforce to toil 90-hour weeks—just because he does—is almost Shakespearean. Someone should start a crowdfunding campaign for this man’s emotional distress.
But let’s dissect the layers of absurdity in his statement.
The Sexism That Got Overlooked
Amid all the outrage, the blatant sexism in Subrahmanyam’s words has been oddly sidelined. “How long can you stare at your wife?” Well, sir, what about staring at husbands? Or does L&T exclusively hire married men with wives to gaze at in existential despair?
What about single employees? Should they be assigned workplace-approved staring partners? And the children of these “wife-staring” employees—do they not deserve a day with their fathers before they are shipped off to become corporate robots? And the elderly parents? Should they just sit in solitude while their children prioritize spreadsheets over Sunday family lunches?
Of course, the real horror isn’t just the sexism. It’s the looming threat of labour exploitation.
From 70-Hour to 90-Hour Workweeks: The Corporate Dystopia
As if Narayana Murthy’s “70-hour work week” suggestion wasn’t dystopian enough, Subrahmanyam now wants 90 hours. Because who needs rest, family, or a functioning spine?
The International Labour Organization already reports that Indians work an average of 46.7 hours per week, with over 51% clocking more than 49 hours—making India one of the hardest-working nations. Meanwhile, European countries are experimenting with four-day workweeks, proving that efficiency does not require endless toil.
If this is the direction we’re heading, why not go all in? Set up corporate labour camps, seize employees’ legal documents so they can’t escape, and simply ship their bodies back to their families once they’ve worked themselves to death. It’s efficient, cuts out all that annoying “work-life balance” nonsense, and ensures maximum productivity!
The Science Is Clear: Overwork Kills
Are corporate leaders even reading the news? Let alone medical research?
A 2015 study in the Human Resources Management Journal found that employees often “donate” their personal time—nights, weekends, and vacations—without protest, simply because overwork culture trickles down from the top. By 2019, the National Library of Medicine confirmed that long working hours lead to sleep disturbances, fatigue, and workplace injuries.
The problem isn’t just discomfort—it’s deadly.
A 2021 BBC report revealed that overwork kills more people than malaria. According to WHO and ILO research, working more than 54 hours per week significantly increases the risk of heart disease and stroke. Overwork is responsible for three-quarters of a million deaths annually, with South Asians being particularly vulnerable.
And yet, India’s corporate leaders seem determined to turn back the clock to the industrial age, ignoring history, science, and human well-being.
Longer Hours = Lower Productivity
The obsession with longer hours isn’t just inhumane—it doesn’t even make economic sense.
Numerous studies confirm that excessive work hours do not boost productivity. In fact, sleep-deprived employees make more mistakes, which cost companies money. Even in the 19th century, factory owners realized that reducing work hours from 10 to 8 per day increased efficiency and reduced accidents.
Yet today, business leaders are fighting Gen Z’s “quiet quitting” movement, where employees are rejecting hustle culture and setting clear work-life boundaries. Unlike previous generations, young professionals prioritize mental health and refuse to sacrifice their lives for a paycheck.
The Future Is Hybrid—Not Feudal
The COVID-19 pandemic was a wake-up call for businesses worldwide. Companies realized that remote work is not just possible but often more cost-effective, saving expenses on rent, electricity, and office maintenance.
Progressive companies in Europe and North America now count commuting time as work hours, recognizing its toll on employees. Meanwhile, Indian workers spend hours stuck in traffic, exhausting themselves before even reaching the office. If companies in India want a productive and engaged workforce, embracing flexible work models is the only way forward.
India Needs Stronger Labour Laws
Ultimately, this isn’t just about corporate culture—it’s about workers’ rights.
India urgently needs stronger labour laws to protect employees from exploitation. No one should fear losing their job for refusing unpaid overtime. Overwork should be a choice, not an expectation.
The world is moving forward. It’s time India’s corporate leaders do the same.