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In an Instagram story, Padukone wrote, “Shocking to see people in such senior positions making such statements #mentalhealthmatters.” Her comment resonated widely on social media, drawing attention to the mental health consequences of demanding such long hours from workers.
Harsh Goenka, Chairperson of the RPG Group, offering a pointed retort. He tweeted, “90 hours a week? Why not rename Sunday to ‘Sun-duty’ and make ‘day off’ a mythical concept! Working hard and smart is what I believe in, but turning life into a perpetual office shift? That’s a recipe for burnout, not success. Work-life balance isn’t optional, it’s essential. Well, that’s my view! #WorkSmartNotSlave.”
90 hours a week? Why not rename Sunday to ‘Sun-duty’ and make ‘day off’ a mythical concept! Working hard and smart is what I believe in, but turning life into a perpetual office shift? That’s a recipe for burnout, not success. Work-life balance isn’t optional, it’s essential.… pic.twitter.com/P5MwlWjfrk
— Harsh Goenka (@hvgoenka) January 9, 2025
Subrahmanyan’s remarks came to light after a video from an internal L&T interaction was shared on social media. In the video, Subrahmanyan expressed his belief that employees should work on Sundays, questioning the need for time off. “What do you do sitting at home? How long can you stare at your wife? How long can the wife stare at your husband? Get to the office and start working,” he said, sparking outrage online.
The chairman further fueled the controversy by citing a conversation with a Chinese professional, stating, “Chinese people work 90 hours a week, while Americans work only 50 hours a week. If you have got to be on top of the world, you have to work 90 hours a week.” His comments were seen as promoting a grueling work culture that many consider detrimental to employee well-being.
As backlash intensified, L&T issued a statement defending Subrahmanyan’s comments. The company emphasised its commitment to nation-building and India’s growth, asserting that the chairman’s remarks reflected the need for extraordinary efforts to achieve the country’s vision of development.
“At L&T, nation-building is at the core of our mandate. The chairman’s remarks reflect this larger ambition, emphasising that extraordinary outcomes require extraordinary effort,” an L&T spokesperson said in a statement to CNBC-TV18.
Click/tap here to watch the video of L&T CMD on 90-hour workweek
