'Ghar jao': Swiggy CEO advises against hustle culture. 'Someone making sense,' says internet

Rohit Kapoor’s remarks resonated with a majority of social media users.

Rohit Kapoor, CEO of Swiggy Food and Marketplace, took a strong stance against the growing trend of "hustle culture," calling for a healthier work-life balance during his address at the TechSparks 2024 event in Bengaluru. While emphasising the importance of hard work, Kapoor urged people not to sacrifice their personal well-being and relationships for the sake of professional success.

Speaking to the audience, Kapoor acknowledged that many industries promote the idea of working longer hours to achieve success, but he cautioned against the harmful effects of this mindset. "You don't need to hustle and work till 3 AM every day," he said. “Hard work is needed. I think we need to work d**n hard,” Kapoor added, but he stressed the need to draw the line when it comes to overworking.

He specifically advised against working late into the night and suggested "burning the midnight oil" is simply not needed. He also encouraged employees to spend time with their families instead of extending work hours unnecessarily. "Nothing has ever come easy in my life, but it has not come at the cost of going crazy. You don't need to be crazy."

Kapoor’s remarks resonated with a majority of social media users, with a video of his speech gaining widespread attention on social media. The video had many supporting his views.

One Instagram user quipped, “Narayan Murthy getting panic attacks watching this,” in reference to the Infosys co-founder’s earlier comments advocating for a 70-hour workweek. Another added, “Finally, someone talked like normal to all of us."

Others echoed Kapoor’s sentiment, calling for a change in how work and personal life are managed. “More people need to talk this," one user wrote, while another remarked, “Finally, someone said this; otherwise, people have been blowing the trumpet of hustle culture.”

"Finally someone said something sensible," a user stated. Another person commented, "Can't agree more. Have followed the same always.

Rohit Kapoor’s comments come amid ongoing debates about work-life balance in high-pressure industries. His career, which began at McKinsey & Company as a management consultant in 2000, has included senior roles at Max India Limited and OYO before he joined Swiggy in 2022 as CEO of the Food Marketplace.