L&T Defends Chairman SN Subrahmanyan Amid Backlash Over His 90-Hour Workweek Remarks

Larsen & Toubro (L&T) has come forward to defend its chairman, SN Subrahmanyan, following widespread criticism of his remarks suggesting employees work on Sundays and clock 90 hours a week.

The company emphasised that achieving remarkable outcomes demands exceptional effort, especially at a time when India is on a path to progress.

"Nation-building lies at the heart of our mission. For over eight decades, we have been shaping India's infrastructure, industries, and technological capabilities. We believe this is India's decade - a period calling for collective commitment and effort to drive growth and realise our shared vision of becoming a developed nation," said an L&T spokesperson. "The chairman's comments reflect this broader ambition."

During a recent interaction with employees, Subrahmanyan addressed the company's six-day work week and expressed a preference for an even more rigorous schedule. "I regret I am not able to make you work on Sundays. If I can make you work on Sundays, I will be happier, because I work on Sundays," he stated.

He also made a controversial remark, saying, "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 shared an anecdote about a conversation with a Chinese individual who claimed China could surpass the United States because Chinese workers logged 90-hour weeks compared to 50-hour weeks in the US. Citing this example, he urged 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, captured in an undated video that recently surfaced on Reddit, drew widespread criticism online. Many viewers found the comments inappropriate, raising concerns over work-life balance.

Critics compared Subrahmanyan's statements to earlier remarks by Infosys co-founder Narayana Murthy, who had advocated that young Indians should work 70 hours a week to support the nation's growth. Murthy's comments had also faced significant backlash, with critics calling such expectations unreasonable and detrimental to workers.

The controversy has reignited the debate on work-life balance in corporate India.

L&T's shares reflected the fallout, closing 1.71% lower on Thursday at Rs 3,535.00. The stock has dropped 4.53% over the past five days, 9.89% in the last month, and 0.3% over the past year.