L&T chairman SN Subrahmanyan is slammed for ‘90-hour work week’. The controversy explained

How much is too much when it comes to work hours? A simmering debate that began with Infosys co-founder Narayana Murthy’s suggestion of a 70-hour work week has now been reignited, this time by Larsen & Toubro Chairman SN Subrahmanyan. The L&T top boss suggested that employees should work 90 hours a week, including Sundays.

The comments made by Subrahmanyan on Thursday have set off a firestorm of criticism online with people from all spectrums weighing in, including Bollywood celebrities like Deepika Padukone. The actor reposted a post about this and wrote, “Shocking to see people in such senior positions make such statements. #MentalHealthMatters.”

But who is SN Subrahmanyan, and what exactly did he say? Here’s a closer look at the controversy.

During an employee interaction, Subrahmanyan was asked about L&T’s policy of a six-day workweek, despite the company being one of India’s largest conglomerates.

In response, the top boss lamented over not being able to make his employees work on Sundays, saying, “I regret I am not able to make you work on Sundays, to be honest. If I can make you work on Sundays, I will be more happy, because I work on Sundays also.”

He then raised questions about the value of time off, asking, “What do you do sitting at home? How long can you stare at your wife? How long can the wives stare at their husbands? Get to the office and start working.”

https://twitter.com/nextbigwhat/status/1877302839980007465?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

Subrahmanyan then justified his position by recounting a conversation he had with a Chinese professional, who credited China’s success to its strong work ethic.

The chairman said the professional explained that while Americans typically work 50-hour weeks, Chinese workers often put in 90-hour weeks. Subrahmanyan urged L&T employees to adopt this level of dedication, stating that such efforts were necessary to achieve global excellence.

‘Rename Sunday to ‘Sun-duty’’

Subrahmanyan’s views weren’t well received on social media after the video of his comments went viral, triggering a debate about the lost work-life balance in India’s private sector.

“Another CEO shamelessly promoting slavery,” one comment read. While another accused Subrahmanyan of hypocrisy, saying, “This same person will dump his workload on juniors and go home to stare at his wife. Two-faced much?”

Another user quipped, “How long can employees stare at screens and fatass managers?”

A third comment read, “Dear Chairman L&T, It seems you might have some personal issues at home, but we actually enjoy spending time with our families. Your 90-hour comment about taking over Mr. Murty? Quite funny, but also incredibly naive.”

The backlash didn’t end there. Critics took aim at L&T’s corporate culture, with one person stating, “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 per cent leave in three years.”

Industrialist Harsh Goenka also took a dig at the L&T chairman saying the ‘day off’ should be made a ‘mythical concept’. “90 hours a week? Why not rename Sunday to ‘Sun-duty’ and make ‘day off’ a mythical concept!” he wrote.

https://twitter.com/hvgoenka/status/1877330453826257211?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

Who is SN Subrahmanyan?

Sekharipuram Narayanan Subrahmanyan, also known as SNS within L&T, has been an integral part of the company for decades.

Larsen & Toubro (L&T) is one of India’s largest conglomerates, with interests spanning construction, industrial technology, heavy industry, and engineering. The company boasts a market cap of Rs 4.85 lakh crore, reports DNA.

Subrahmanyan, aged 64, began his journey with L&T in 1984 as a Project Planning Engineer. After being mentored by industry veterans, he took on greater responsibilities and joined the L&T Board in 2011. Following his promotions to roles such as Managing Director and President, Subrahmanyan became Chairman and Managing Director in October 2023.

Under his leadership, L&T has executed numerous high-profile projects, including the Statue of Unity, ITER, airport projects in Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad and Bengaluru, K9 Vajra, Atal Setu, and the Ayodhya Ram Mandir, among others.

Beyond his corporate role, Subrahmanyan is involved in various industry bodies. He is one of the nine founding members of the Climate Finance Leadership Initiative (CFLI) India and serves as the honorary chairperson of the Board of Governors at the National Institute of Technology – Rourkela.

In 2021, the Union Ministry of Labour and Employment appointed him Chairman of the National Safety Council for a two-year term.

Born in Chennai on March 16, 1960, Subrahmanyan holds a degree in civil engineering from Regional Engineering College Kurukshetra and an MBA from Symbiosis Institute of Business Management, Pune. He also completed an Executive Management programme from the London Business School.

Subrahmanyan has received several accolades, including the Eminent Engineer award from the Engineering Council of India in 2024. He was featured on the cover of Fortune magazine in October 2023 as India’s best CEO and ranked first in the Infrastructure and Engineering category of Business Today-PwC India’s Best CEOs list in 2022.

However, his contentious stand on delicate work-life balance for his employees has whipped up significant controversy.

In response to the backlash, L&T issued a statement defending the chairman’s remarks. A company spokesperson said, “At L&T, nation-building is at the core of our mandate. For over eight decades, we have been shaping India’s infrastructure, industries, and technological capabilities.”

The spokesperson then called Subhramanyan’s remark as a reflection of “larger ambitions”.

“We believe this is India’s decade, a time demanding collective dedication and effort to drive progress and realize our shared vision of becoming a developed nation The Chairman’s remarks reflect this larger ambition, emphasising that extraordinary outcomes require extraordinary effort,” the spokesperson added.

Big bosses’s obsession with long-work hours

Subrahmanyan’s remarks come after a similar controversy stirred by Infosys co-founder
Narayana Murthy a few months ago.

Speaking at a leadership summit, Murthy suggested that young Indians should work 70-hour weeks to boost national productivity. He said, “I don’t believe in work-life balance,” before expressing his disappointment over India’s shift from a six-day to a five-day.

Inspired by PM Narendra Modi’s reported 100-hour workweeks, Murthy then argued that Indians should adopt this work ethic for national development.

However,
Murthy’s comments sparked a widespread conversation about maintaining a balance between professional ambitions and personal well-being. Many criticised the notion, arguing that such a culture could lead to burnout and negatively impact mental health.

Subrahmanyan’s advocacy for a 90-hour workweek further fueled this discourse, drawing criticism from all quarters.

With input from agencies