Thu Jan 09 18:04:34 UTC 2025: ## L&T Chairman’s Remarks on Employee Workload Spark Controversy

**Mumbai, India** – Larsen & Toubro (L&T) is facing backlash after a video surfaced online showing its chairman, SN Subrahmanyan, expressing regret that employees don’t work on Sundays and questioning their activities at home. The comments, made during an employee interaction, sparked outrage on social media, with critics accusing the chairman of promoting excessive work hours.

Subrahmanyan’s statement, “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,” along with his query about employees’ home life, drew sharp criticism. He further suggested that employees should prioritize work over personal time.

Following the controversy, L&T issued a statement clarifying that Subrahmanyan’s comments were meant to emphasize the need for “extraordinary effort” to achieve ambitious growth targets in India. The company highlighted its commitment to nation-building and the need for collective dedication to achieve its vision of a developed India. A spokesperson reiterated that the chairman’s remarks reflect the company’s pursuit of “extraordinary outcomes” requiring a commensurate level of effort.

However, the clarification did little to quell the controversy. Social media users compared Subrahmanyan’s statements to similar past remarks by Infosys founder Narayana Murthy, who also suggested long work weeks. Additional user accounts on Reddit shared anecdotal evidence of perceived pressure to minimize sick leave within the company.

The incident has raised concerns about work-life balance and employee well-being within L&T, prompting widespread debate on the expectations placed on employees in India’s rapidly growing corporate sector.

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