Subrahmanyan, speaking to L&T employees during an internal company exchange, had expressed regret that the company was not able to push for working on Sundays and questioned how long employees could sit at home “staring at their wives or husbands.”
L&T has since defended Subrahmanyan’s comments, emphasising that “extraordinary outcomes require extraordinary effort.”
In response, Bikhchandani acknowledged the importance of motivation in driving performance but cautioned against the long-term sustainability of an overly demanding work schedule. He noted that while working 90 hours a week for a short period during a crisis or to meet a tight deadline might be possible, it is not a feasible way of working for an entire career.
“Ninety hours a week with seven working days is 12.5 hours a day. You can do it for a week or two if there’s a crisis, but I don’t think it’s sustainable 52 weeks of the year into a 30-year career,” Bikhchandani explained.
However, Bikhchandani also expressed an understanding of Subrahmanyan’s intent. He recognised that the L&T Chairman was trying to inspire his team, pushing them to work harder to achieve extraordinary results.
Drawing from his own experiences, Bikhchandani elaborated, “I started my career in advertising. I know the kind of working hours that there are in advertising, and believe me, they are much, much more than 40 hours a week. But you don’t do it because you’re forced to do it. You do it because you like your job, you do it because you love it, or you do it because that is what is required.”
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First Published: Jan 10, 2025 8:28 PM IST
