'Shameless Leadership': FoneArena Founder Varun Krishnan On L&T Chair’s 90-Hour Workweek Proposal

Popular independent tech site FoneArena Founder Varun Krishnan has criticised L&T and many other Indian companies' policies on work-life balance.

Krishnan's comments come at a time when the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Larsen & Toubro (L&T), S.N Subrahmanyan advocated for a 90-hour work week which is a statement that parallels with Infosys co-founder Narayan Murthy's statements who had earlier suggested that young Indians should work 70 hours a week.

What Did Varun Krishnan Say?

In his post on X, Varun Krishnan reposted the video where Subrahmanyan is advocating a 90 hour work week and wrote, "Shameless leadership at L&T and many Indian companies. They want employees to work on Saturdays and even Sundays if possible. People would rather work for themselves and quit such companies with ) work life balance."

"I understand work at L&T never stops given that they are largest infrastructure player in India. Recruit mor people and stop making the same employees over work!" he added.

Controversy Behind Subrahmanyam's Video

In a recent interaction with employees, the Chairman of the Board of Directors for Larsen & Toubro, S.N. Subrahmanyan addressed the firm's six-day work week and 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 Sunday," he said.

However, what caused the controversy was when Subrahmanyan asked, "What do you do sitting at home? How long can you stare at your wife? Come on, get to the office and start working."

The Chairman also recounted a conversation with a Chinese individual who suggested that China could outpace the United States as they clock a 90 hour work week as opposed to the 50 hours worked by Americans.

Subrahmanyan further used this as an example to tell employees that if they have to be on top of the world, they had to work 90 hours a week.

“If you have got to be on top of the world, you have to work 90 hours a week. Get going, guys," he said.

Also Read: ‘Work-Life Balance Is Essential’: RPG Group’s Harsh Goenka Slams L&T Chair’s 90-Hour Workweek Proposal | Republic Business