| Company | Value | Change | %Change |
|---|
Poonawalla shared a playful remark on X (formerly Twitter), stating, “Even my wife loves staring at me on Sundays.” His post came just days after Subrahmanyan’s suggestion that employees should work longer hours, even dedicating their Sundays to work, in order to maximise productivity.
Yes @anandmahindra, even my wife @NPoonawalla thinks i am wonderful, she loves staring at me on Sundays. Quality of work over quantity always. #worklifebalance pic.twitter.com/5Lr1IjOB6r
— Adar Poonawalla (@adarpoonawalla) January 12, 2025
The L&T Chairman’s 90-hour workweek proposition sparked a range of reactions, not only from business leaders but also from Bollywood stars and politicians. Many took to social media to challenge Subrahmanyan’s call for sacrificing personal time for work.
Poonawalla, a supporter of work-life balance, echoed Mahindra’s sentiments, who once commented, “I’m on social media not because I’m lonely. My wife is wonderful, I love staring at her. I’m here because people don’t understand it is an amazing business tool.”
Mahindra’s remark was seen as a counterpoint to Subrahmanyan’s comments, which questioned how much time people should spend with their families during their days off.
Subrahmanyan suggested that Sundays could be better spent working, questioning, “How long can you stare at your wife? What do you do sitting at home?”
Other notable figures, such as RPG Group Chairman Harsh Goenka, also expressed their concerns about the sustainability of such extreme work schedules. Goenka dismissed the 90-hour workweek idea, calling it a “recipe for burnout.” He emphasised that “work-life balance isn’t optional, it’s essential,” posting his thoughts on X.
Rajiv Bajaj, Managing Director of Bajaj Auto, echoed a similar sentiment, emphasising that the quality of work is far more important than the sheer number of hours spent at the office. “Let 90 hours start from the top,” he said, advocating for a gentler approach to the modern workplace.
Meanwhile, Anupam Mittal, founder of Shaadi.com, humorously responded to Subrahmanyan’s comment about staring at one’s wife, stating, “But sir, if husband and wife don’t look at each other, how will we remain the most populous country in the world?”
TMC MP Mahua Moitra also weighed in, contrasting Subrahmanyan’s view with that of Denmark, a country renowned for its work-life balance. She shared that Denmark averages 34 hours worked per week and ranks highly in both work-life balance and GDP per capita, urging Subrahmanyan to “get a life.”
This ongoing debate continues to highlight the growing tension between traditional, demanding work cultures and a modern understanding of the need for personal time and well-being.
ALSO READ: 90-hour work week debate: Ad guru Piyush Pandey advises L&T to rename company to Lynch & Torment
