Harsh Goenka weighs on L&T chairman's '90-hour work-week' remark, says 'work-life balance isn’t optional, it's...'

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Billionaire Harsh Goenka took to X (formerly Twitter) on January 9 to react to Larsen & Toubro (L&T) Chairman SN Subrahmanyan's remark, suggesting that employees should work 90 hours a week and even on Sundays to stay competitive.

In his post on X, Goenka wrote, "90 hours a week? Why not rename Sunday to 'Sun-duty' and make 'day off' a mythical concept! Working hard and smart is what I believe in, but turning life into a perpetual office shift? That's a recipe for burnout, not success. Work-life balance isn't optional, it’s essential. Well, that’s my view! #WorkSmartNotSlave"

In an undated video, Subrahmanyan was responding to an employee's question about why the company mandated working on Saturdays. He stated, "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... What do you do sitting at home? How long can you stare at your wife? Come on, get to the office and start working."

Earlier, actress Deepika Padukone also criticized Subrahmanyan for his comment. Taking to Instagram, she wrote, "Shocking to see people in such senior positions make such statements. #mentalhealthmatters"

Marico founder and chairman Harsh Mariwala also disagreed with Subrahmanyan’s remark. “Undeniably, hard work is the backbone of success, but it is not about the hours clocked in. It's about the quality and passion one brings to those hours… When young professionals are passionate and see purpose in what they do, the need to 'balance' becomes a harmonious blend of personal and professional fulfillment,” he wrote on X on January 9.

Mariwala was responding to journalist Sucheta Dalal, who sought the views of industrialists on the issue.

I feel compelled to share my perspective. Undeniably, hard work is the backbone of success, but it is not about the hours clocked in. It's about the quality and passion one brings to those hours.For our youth to be truly engaged and motivated, we need to ensure they are placed
Harsh Mariwala (@hcmariwala) January 9, 2025

Veteran fund manager Samir Arora has also reacted to the comment. Taking to X on January 10, the founder of Helios Capital spoke about his initial job experiences after IIM. "It is not right to say that the CEO/promoter is working 70 hrs because he is the owner and gets paid much more etc. You have to ask, why that person was able to become CEO or First gen promoter or whatever in the first place. Your choice," he added.

After Subrahmanyan received backlash for his comment, L&T came up with a statement regarding its chairman's remark. "Nation-building is at the core of our mandate. For over eight decades, we have been shaping India’s infrastructure, industries, and technological capabilities. 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," it said.

The company's statement also attracted severe criticism, with Deepika Padukone commenting on it, "And they just made it worse…"