L&T Chief's 90-Hour Workweek Push Faces Backlash Over Work-Life Balance Remarks

SN Subrahmanyan's comments advocating long work hours and questioning time spent with family have drawn widespread criticism from business leaders, celebrities, and the public.

L&T Chairman SN Subrahmanyan suggested a 90-hour workweek, including working on Sundays, questioning the value of time spent at home or 'staring at one's wife.'
Business leaders like Anand Mahindra and Adar Poonawalla countered the remarks, emphasizing the importance of work-life balance and productivity over hours worked.
Celebrities such as Deepika Padukone and Jwala Gutta criticized the comments as dismissive of mental health and misogynistic, sparking broader discussions on workplace culture.
Social media users and companies, including Zomato, joined the discourse with satirical takes, while many highlighted India's already high rates of overwork as reported by the ILO.
L&T issued a statement framing Subrahmanyan's remarks as reflective of the company's ambitious goals, but critics argue it underscores a larger issue with toxic work culture.