‘We won’t do it’: ITC chief Sanjeev Puri as debate rages on over 90-hour workweek

Sanjeev Puri, Chairman, ITC Consumer Goods Group, also participated in the debate on the 90-hour work week. Rather than hours, it’s more important that employees align with the company’s larger vision, Puri said in a recent interview.

His remarks come amid a raging controversy over L&T Chairman SN Subrahmanyan’s remarks that employees should work 90 hours a week.

“If you ask a builder what he is doing, he might say he is laying bricks, another might say he is building a wall, but some might say he is building a castle,” he said. “This is the vision that workers should have.” PTI in an interview.

When asked if this meant he would prefer not to put in a number of hours, Puri said: “We won’t do that.”

Moreover, Puri explained that empowering employees with the company’s vision and purpose is important.

“We are using part of the vision and we want to contribute to making the vision a reality. We enable vitality through our operations, through the resources that we provide, through the freedom of action, that we provide, and the empowerment that we provide, which are very different, very clear goals that people have to achieve.” “And those are the basic things we look at.”

To make matters worse, Subramanian said he regretted not being able to get employees to work on Sundays. An undated video clip has gone viral on social media in which the chairman can be heard making the remarks.

He also questioned the need for employees to spend time at home. “What are you doing while sitting at home? How long can you stare at your wife, and how long can the wife stare at your husband.”

Commenting on the video that went viral, Puri said: “I know he (Subrahmanyan) has been discussed a lot, but let me tell you the philosophy with which you look at him.”