Larsen & Toubro Chairman SN Subrahmanyan
Another top leader from a top company shared their thoughts on work-life balance that has once again reignited the debate online. The recent remark comes from Larsen & Toubro Chairman SN Subrahmanyan, who suggested that employees should work for 90 hours a week, including Sundays.
During an interaction with employees, Subrahmanyan was asked, “Why is L&T still making employees work on Saturdays even after being one of the largest conglomerates and the face of India’s business world?”
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To which the L&T chairman said, “I regret I’m not able to make you work on Sundays, to be honest. If I can make you work on Sundays, I’d be more happier because I work on Sundays also.”
He continued, “What do you do sitting at home? How long can you stare at your wife? How long can the wife stare at her husband?”
His solution instead? “C’mon. Get to the office and start working!”
Soon the video went viral, and netizens were quick to draw comparisons with Infosys founder Narayana Murthy’s controversial 70-hour workweek statement.
“How long will you stare at your wife?”
L&T chairman wants you to work on Sundays also!
You agree? pic.twitter.com/4MEGG408gd
— NextBigWhat.com (@nextbigwhat) January 9, 2025
An X user remarked, “Has this person got some marital discord or family dispute he wants to run away from? How long can he hide in office?”
Another slammed the chairman and stated, “He doesn’t work as hard as his company’s manufacturing employees, physically,instead he sits in his AC office and makes decisions, he doesn’t travel hours and hours everyday in the buses and trains to work everyday, instead he might travel through his luxury cars. Total nonsense.”
Another asked, “This same person will dump his workload on juniors and go home to stare at his wife. Two-faced much?”
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One social media user raised an equally important question, “what about salary?” while another jokingly asked, “what about those who don’t have wives?”
Some pointed out L&T’s corporate culture, claiming, “L&T hires graduates at peanuts, makes them work 6.5 days a week, and gives only seven casual leaves a year. No wonder 90% leave in three years.”
