‘How long can you stare at your wife?’: L&T chairman suggests working 90 hours a week, even on Sundays

Thu Jan 09 16:50:00 UTC 2025: ## L&T Chairman Sparks Outrage with 90-Hour Work Week Suggestion

**Mumbai, India** – Larsen & Toubro (L&T) chairman SN Subrahmanyan has ignited a firestorm of controversy after a video surfaced showing him urging employees to work 90 hours a week, including Sundays, to maintain global competitiveness. His comments, made during an employee interaction, have drawn widespread criticism online.

Subrahmanyan reportedly expressed frustration at the inability to secure seven-day workweeks, questioning employees’ home activities and advocating for increased office hours. He even cited a conversation with a Chinese individual who attributed China’s potential to surpass the US to its workforce’s 90-hour workweeks, contrasting this with the purported 50-hour workweeks of American employees. His remarks have been met with outrage on social media, with many users questioning the practicality and fairness of such demands.

This incident follows a similar controversy involving Infosys co-founder Narayana Murthy, highlighting a growing debate about work-life balance and expectations within Indian leadership. While some argue that such long hours are necessary for global competitiveness, critics contend that such demands are unsustainable and detrimental to employee well-being.

Experts, such as organizational psychologist Neha Parashar, suggest alternative approaches to achieving high performance. Parashar emphasizes the importance of goal-setting, self-assessment, and proactive preparation strategies like mental contrasting and implementation intentions to balance autonomy with accountability under demanding leadership. She also highlights the benefits of pre-mortem analysis to anticipate potential failures and improve performance in high-pressure environments.

The controversy surrounding Subrahmanyan’s comments underscores the ongoing tension between the demands of a competitive global market and the need for a healthy and sustainable work-life balance for employees. The incident raises important questions about leadership styles, work culture, and the ethical implications of excessive work expectations.

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