After Larsen & Toubro chairman SN Subrahmanyan was trolled heavily for his remarks that his employees should be at work even on Sundays, the company issued a statement that he only aimed to stress that "extraordinary outcomes require extraordinary effort."
In defense of its chairman SN Subrahmanyan's divisive comments supporting a 90-hour workweek, Larsen & Toubro stated that his remarks align with the company's broader national development goals.
“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,” said an L&T spokesperson.
“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 spokesperson added.
The company reaffirmed its commitment to fostering a culture driven by "passion, purpose, and performance" and explained that Subrahmanyan's comments were meant to emphasize that "extraordinary outcomes require extraordinary effort."
The controversy began after a video of Subrahmanyan advocating for workers to work on Sundays went viral on Reddit.
In response to a question about required Saturday work, he said, "I regret I am not able to make you work on Sundays."
He added, "If I can make you work on Sundays, I will be happier, because I work on Sundays. What do you do sitting at home? How long can you stare at your wife? How long can the wife stare at her husband? Get to the office and start working."
Subrahmanyan also compared global work cultures, saying, "Chinese people work 90 hours a week, while Americans only work 50 hours. If you want to be on top of the world, you have to work 90 hours a week."
His statements quickly drew backlash on the internet, with many social media users accusing him of promoting a toxic workplace and overlooking employees' mental health needs.
Some compared his remarks to those of Narayana Murthy, a co-founder of Infosys, who had previously suggested a 70-hour workweek for young professionals.
Longtime mental health advocate and actor Deepika Padukone expressed concern over Subrahmanyan's comments.
“Shocking to see people in such senior positions make such statements,” she commented while sharing them on her Instagram Stories.
After L&T clarified the situation, Padukone replied, “And they just made it worse.” Her remarks highlighted the growing need for workplace regulations that prioritize mental health.
Industry veteran Harsh Goenka criticized the notion of a 90-hour workweek and warned against the risks of burnout.
“We need to work hard and smart, but turning work into a perpetual office shift isn’t the answer,” he said, emphasizing the importance of balancing well-being with productivity.
This controversy echoes comments made by Indian billionaire businessman Gautam Adani, who described work-life balance as a personal choice.
He added, “Your idea of work-life balance shouldn’t be forced on me, and mine shouldn’t be forced on you.”
Since taking over as L&T's chairman and managing director in October 2023, SN Subrahmanyan has played a key role in defining the company’s vision.
In the fiscal year 2023–2024, Subrahmanyan earned ₹51 crore, a 43.11% increase over the previous year.
His salary included ₹10.5 crore in retirement benefits, ₹3.6 crore in basic pay, and ₹35.28 crore in commissions.
This amount is 534 times higher than the median employee wage at L&T, which was ₹9.55 lakh during the same period.
Loading ...
Copyright© educationpost.in 2024 All Rights Reserved.
Designed and Developed by @Pyndertech