'Human being can’t be productive beyond 8, 9 hours per day': Adar Poonawalla weighs in on work-life balance

Adar Poonawalla’s comments come amidst a broader conversation about work-life balance.

Adar Poonawalla, CEO of the Serum Institute of India, weighed in on the ongoing debate over work-life balance and productivity, particularly in light of recent discussions around 70-hour and 90-hour workweeks. Speaking at the World Economic Forum (WEF) 2025 in Davos on Tuesday, Poonawalla argued that human productivity has its limits, emphasising the importance of balanced and sustainable work practices.

“A human being can’t be productive beyond 8 or 9 hours [per day],” Poonawalla stated in an interaction with India Today. “Sometimes you have to put in those hours [70 or 90 hours a week]. It’s fine. I do it. My staff do it, but you can’t do that every day.”

Reflecting on his own work habits, Poonawalla revealed that he typically works around eight hours a day, occasionally extending his schedule depending on the demands of the situation. “I work at least 8 hours a day, sometimes on weekends if it’s needed,” he said. However, he added that some days were reserved for leisure activities such as skiing, illustrating the need for flexibility in balancing work and life.

Poonawalla also recounted his gruelling schedule during the COVID-19 pandemic, when he often worked 16-hour days. “During COVID, I was coming home at 11 PM. It all depends on the journey and the stage you’re at. If you’re an entrepreneur building your business, you absolutely should work hard and do whatever it takes.”

While advocating for hard work, he stressed that productivity is not solely determined by hours spent. “There’s no substitute for hard work,” Poonawalla remarked.

Poonawalla’s comments come amidst a broader conversation about work-life balance sparked by recent remarks from industry leaders advocating extended workweeks.

In October 2023, Infosys co-founder NR Narayana Murthy called for a 70-hour workweek, suggesting that Indian youth needed to commit to such schedules for the country to compete with economic powerhouses like China and Japan. However, Murthy later clarified his stance, saying no one could mandate long hours, and the decision ultimately lay with individuals to introspect and assess their commitment.

Similarly, Larsen and Toubro (L&T) Chairman SN Subrahmanyan recently stirred controversy with his remarks about a 90-hour workweek. In a video widely circulated on Reddit, Subrahmanyan encouraged employees to prioritise work over home life, even questioning, “How long can you stare at your wife?” He also lamented the inability to mandate Sunday work, adding, “If I can make you work on Sundays, I will be more happy because I work on Sundays.”