Larsen & Toubro (L&T) has stepped ahead to defend its chairman, SN Subrahmanyan, after widespread criticism of his comments advocating for employees to work on Sundays and 90 hours a week. The company stated that achieving extraordinary results requires extraordinary effort, particularly in a time when India is striving for progress.
L&T spokesperson said, “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 realise our shared vision of becoming a developed nation”. “The chairman’s remarks reflect this larger ambition.”
During a recent interaction with employees, Subrahmanyan addressed the company’s six-day work-week and expressed his belief in a more demanding schedule. He said, “I regret I am not able to make you work on Sundays. If I can make you work on Sundays, I will be more happy, because I work on Sundays”. He went on to make a contentious remark, asking, “What do you do sitting at home? How long can you stare at your wife? Come on, get to the office and start working.”
Subrahmanyan also recounted a talk with a Chinese individual who suggested that China could outpace the United States because Chinese workers clocked 90 hours a week, compared to the 50 hours worked by Americans. He told employees, “If you have got to be on top of the world, you have to work 90 hours a week. Get going, guys.” The remarks, shared in an undated video that surfaced on Reddit, sparked widespread criticism online. Many users found the comments inappropriate and questioned the work-life balance implications.
Critics drew parallels between Subrahmanyan’s statements and earlier remarks made by Infosys co-founder Narayana Murthy, who had suggested that young Indians should work 70 hours a week to contribute to the nation’s growth. Murthy’s comments also faced backlash, with many arguing that such work expectations were unrealistic and harmful.
Comments