“Nobody is forcing anyone to work 70 hours a week…”: Engineer Pai calls 90-hour workweek class “ridiculous”

Mohandas Pai, former CFO of Infosys and chairman of Arin Capital, has waded into the row over grueling work weeks, calling the furor a “waste of airtime”. In response to economist Sanjeev Sanyal’s criticism of excessive working hours, Pai dismissed the controversy, arguing that no one is forced to adopt such practices.

“The CEOs have expressed their opinions. It’s their view, not a rule or coercion,” he wrote on X.

The debate, which gained momentum after L&T Chairman S N Subramanian suggested a 90-hour workweek and asked “how long can you stare at your wife”, has drawn sharp reactions from industry leaders and economists alike.

Sanyal criticized the idea of ​​excessive working hours and highlighted its adverse effects. “Having this as a rule creates moral hazard,” Sanyal said on Twitter, pointing to industries like investment banking, where employees often misuse time under the guise of work. He added: “Only a few can endure these hours, but even they burn.”

Pai echoed Sanyal’s sentiments, stressing that such views from CEOs should not be taken as mandates.

The backlash against long work weeks has sparked reactions from other industry leaders. Mahindra Group Chairman Anand Mahindra emphasized the importance of quality over quantity in business. He added: “This debate is going in the wrong direction. “In 10 hours, you can change the world,” Mahindra said.

Vineet Nayar, former CEO of HCL, also weighed in on the glorification of endless working hours. “Unliving life saps energy, creativity and purpose,” Nayar said, adding that a balanced approach is the key to sustainable productivity.

The controversy originally erupted in October 2023 when Narayana Murthy, co-founder of Infosys, suggested young professionals should work 70 hours a week to compete globally.

Although Murthy’s statements found some support, many claimed that an excessive work culture undermines well-being and productivity.