'Forcing Employees With Disproportionately Less Rewards Is...' NoBroker CEO On L&T Chairman's Workweek Video

NoBroker CEO and founder, Amit Agarwal shared his views on the ongoing debate sparked by L&T CEO SN Subrahmanyan's comments advocating for 90-hour work weeks. While he acknowledged that some high-level entrepreneurs, like CEOs and founders, may be willing to work long hours, he emphasized that imposing long hours on employees is a different matter altogether.

For entrepreneurs, the rewards tied to their output often justify the long hours they put in. "As founders, we love working non-stop because we are building something. The rewards are disproportionately high, and we do it because we want to. But asking someone else to do it forcefully, with disproportionately fewer rewards, is a different ball game," Agarwal said.

Work hours Vs Output

Addressing the crux of the debate, he raised the question: Does the number of hours worked necessarily correlate with productivity? The NoBroker founder argued that the emphasis should not be on how many hours employees work, but on the quality of work and their enthusiasm to complete tasks when the situation demands. "Why should it matter how many hours you've worked? Shouldn't the focus be on how much work you've achieved?" he questioned.

He also took a strong stance on the importance of breaks and work-life balance, referencing Henry Ford's landmark decision nearly 100 years ago to give employees weekends off. "Taking a break rejuvenates you and is good for companies. If everyone works all the time, who will consume your products? People need time to recharge, to spend with family, and to come back to work ready to tackle the next challenge," he said. For him, ensuring a balanced life is not only beneficial to employees’ mental health but is also essential for maintaining sustainable productivity.

Work Hours Vs Mental Health

On the topic of mental health, the NoBroker founder expressed concerns about the debate turning into a divide between "oppressor and oppressed." He advocated for a more holistic approach: "Instead of forcing long hours across the board, the focus should be on motivating people to work long hours when needed—during critical or emergency situations. Once those moments pass, employees should return to a balanced life."

Taking a more flexible stance, Agarwal explained that at NoBroker, the company doesn't dictate how many hours employees work. Instead, they are empowered to take ownership of their tasks and work at their own pace. "I don’t care how many hours they work, whether it's a Sunday or not, as long as they enjoy the work and take ownership of it," he said.

In a time when more and more companies are embracing hybrid working models, the NoBroker CEO sees flexibility as the way forward, believing that the focus should be on outcomes rather than rigid working hours.