L&T Chairman SN Subrahmanyan recently sparked controversy by advocating for a 90-hour work week, saying he regrets not being able to make employees work on Sundays. He even questioned the necessity of time off, asking how long employees can "stare at their wife" at home. Deepika Padukone, a vocal advocate for mental health, was quick to react to Subrahmanyan's statement.
She reposted journalist Faye D'Souza's Instagram story on the issue and added her own comment, saying, "Shocking to see people in such senior positions make such statements. #MentalHealthMatters".
During a recent employee interaction, Subrahmanyan said, "What do you do sitting at home? How long can you stare at your wife?" He expressed regret that he couldn't mandate Sunday work, stating that he would be "happier" if employees worked on weekends as he does.
Subrahmanyan's comments have reignited the debate on work-life balance, with many criticizing his remarks as unrealistic and dismissive of employees' well-being. This isn't the first time a business leader has made such comments; Infosys co-founder Narayana Murthy previously suggested a 70-hour work week for young professionals.
In response to the backlash, Larsen & Toubro issued a statement clarifying that Subrahmanyan's comments were meant to emphasize the dedication required to achieve India's vision of becoming a developed nation.
In its official statement, L&T said, "At L&T, 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 realize our shared vision of becoming a developed nation. The Chairman’s remarks reflect this larger ambition, emphasizing that extraordinary outcomes require extraordinary effort. At L&T, we remain committed to fostering a culture where passion, purpose, and performance drive us forward.”
On the company’s statement, the actress reacted and post another Instagram story saying, “And they just made it worse….”.
