90-hour work week: Not only L&T CEO Elon Musk, Adit Palecha and Shantanu Deshpande want more hours at work

In less than 48 hours, L&T Chairman SN Subramanian received heavy criticism for his recent comments on working hours. A video of him discussing the necessity of employees working 90 hours a week, even on Sundays, in order to remain competitive has gone viral. This video, in which Subramanian answers a query about mandatory Saturday work, sparked a debate among viewers about the impact of this work culture on the mental health of employees.

In the video, Subramanian responded to an employee’s question about mandatory work on Saturdays by saying: “Honestly, I’m sorry that I can’t make you work on Sundays. If I could make you work on Sunday, I would be more happy because I work on Sundays too… What do you do while sitting at home? How long can you stare at your wife? Come on, go to the office and start working.”

Unfortunately, Subramanian is not the first industry leader to suggest extending working hours in India, where a 48-hour work week is the norm and any extra hours are classified as overtime according to the country’s labor regulations. Earlier, Narayana Murthy, co-founder of Infosys, had suggested a 70-hour workweek for Indians. But here are more names that wanted workers to do their best.

Elon Musk

Tesla CEO Elon Musk promoted the idea of ​​long work hours and eliminated remote work at all of his companies last year. According to Musk, consistently spending 80 to 100 hours a week can increase your chances of success.

Musk emphasized that working more than 40 hours a week can lead to greater results. He stated in his tweet that important changes and innovations that change the world are not achieved by working only 40 hours a week.

“There are easier places to work, but no one has ever changed the world by working 40 hours a week,” Musk first said in 2018.

N. R. Narayana Murthy

In a 2023 interview, N. R. Narayana Murthy, founder of Infosys, suggested that for India to compete with economies that have seen significant growth in the past few decades, young people must commit to working 70 hours a week.

He stressed the need to enhance labor productivity in India, describing it as one of the lowest in the world. Addressing issues such as government corruption, bureaucratic delays, and inefficient decision-making, he stressed the importance of overcoming these obstacles to achieve global success.

Based on his own experience of working 85 to 90 hours a week until retirement, the 78-year-old businessman urged the younger generation to prioritize their commitment to the country by devoting themselves to long hours of work.

“Labor productivity in India is one of the lowest in the world. Unless we improve our labor productivity, unless we reduce corruption in government at some level, because we have been reading I don’t know what the truth of the matter is, and unless we reduce the delay in our bureaucracy in making this decision “We will not be able to compete with those countries that have achieved tremendous progress,” he said.

Jack Ma

Jack Ma, co-founder of Alibaba, expressed support for China’s “996” work schedule, which consists of working from 9am to 9pm six days a week. In 2019, Ma referred to this schedule as a “tremendous opportunity,” suggesting that individuals who are passionate about their careers view the ability to work long hours as a privilege.

Although he has been criticized for advocating excessive working hours, Ma stressed that those who are truly dedicated to their work will not view the “996” schedule as a burden. According to him, achieving success requires unwavering commitment and a willingness to endure temporary discomfort in the pursuit of long-term goals.

Bhavesh Agwal

Ola CEO Bhavish Aggawal also expressed his support for NR Narayana Murthy’s proposal of a 70-hour work week, rejecting the concept of work-life balance as a Western idea. Despite facing backlash on social media for endorsing Murthy’s views, Aggarwal remained steadfast in his belief that hard work and sacrifice are necessary to push India towards becoming the world’s number one country.

In a podcast discussion, he said: “I have received criticism for my public support of Mr. Murthy’s statement, but I remain convinced that dedication and perseverance are necessary to achieve our goal of becoming the leading economy.”

Adit Palesha

Aadit Palicha, Zepto’s 22-year-old co-founder and CEO, admitted in a statement last year that his team devotes a significant amount of time to their work, dedicating between 80 and 100 hours per week. He noted that, in hindsight, they could have achieved the same results with less stress by working half-hours. Palesha stressed that after a certain point, the pursuit of money becomes less important. He attributed his team’s willingness to work long hours to their passion for building Zepto and the thrill of the challenge.

“Honestly, if we worked 80 to 100 hours a week, we could probably do half that with a lot less stress,” he said. “At a certain point, money doesn’t matter.”

Shantanu Deshpande

In a recent LinkedIn post, Shantanu Deshpande, CEO of Bombay Shaving Company, emphasized the importance of dedicating oneself to the business during the initial years of one’s career. Deshpande advised young professionals to prioritize their work over leisure activities, spend long hours and focus on their professional development.

Deshpande wrote: “When you are 22 and new to your job, indulge in it. Eat well and stay fit, but dedicate 18 hours a day for at least 4-5 years. I see a lot of young people watching spam everywhere They convince themselves that “work-life balance, time with family, and rejuvenation” are important, but not that early. Worship your work…don’t do Rona’s work Donna Random Take it on the chin and be relentless you’ll be much better for it.

He later apologized: “To those who were hurt by my post – I apologize for that. Realize the need for nuance and context.

Working hours versus productivity

The idea that longer working hours are directly linked to increased productivity and economic growth is being challenged by recent research. Narayan Murthy said India should emulate China, which is known for its average annual working hours of 2,169 hours and a per capita GDP of $14,129. However, data from Our World in Data suggests that factors such as levels of development and industry play a more important role in a country’s economic output.

Countries like India and Bangladesh, where people work longer hours than Western countries, have lower GDP per capita figures. For example, Indians work an average of 2,123 hours per year but have a per capita GDP of $6,711, suggesting that simply working longer hours does not necessarily lead to economic prosperity.

Furthermore, alternative research, such as a study from Stanford University, contradicts the idea that longer work hours contribute to greater economic prosperity and productivity. In fact, the study shows that working more than 49 hours a week can actually lead to lower workforce productivity.