After dealing with sturdy backlash over its Chairman SN Subrahmanyan’s suggestion to staff to work 90 hours every week — together with Sundays, the L&T mentioned on Friday that the Chairman’s remarks replicate the bigger ambition of nation-building, “emphasising that extraordinary outcomes require extraordinary effort”.
In a video message to staff that went viral on social media, Mr Subrahmanyan mentioned: “What do you do sitting at dwelling? How lengthy are you able to stare at your spouse? How lengthy can wives stare at their husbands? Go to the workplace and begin working”.
“Honestly, I’m sorry that I’m not capable of make you’re employed on Sundays. I will probably be happier if I could make you’re employed on Sundays, as a result of I work on Sundays too,” mentioned the L&T Chairman.
An organization spokesperson mentioned in an announcement that for over eight many years, “we have now been shaping India’s infrastructure, industries, and technological capabilities”.
“We imagine that is India’s decade, a time demanding collective dedication and energy to drive progress and realise our shared imaginative and prescient of changing into a developed nation,” mentioned the spokesperson.
“The Chairman’s remarks replicate this bigger ambition, emphasising that extraordinary outcomes require extraordinary effort. At L&T, we stay dedicated to fostering a tradition the place ardour, function, and efficiency drive us ahead,” the spokesperson additional acknowledged.
In his video message, Mr Subrahmanyan inspired L&T staff to work more durable. He spoke a couple of dialog he had with a Chinese man who mentioned that China may overtake the US due to its sturdy work ethic.
According to Mr Subrahmanyan, the Chinese man mentioned, “Chinese individuals work 90 hours every week, whereas Americans work solely 50 hours every week.”
The video acquired a backlash from netizens on social media platforms, together with on-line dialogue discussion board Reddit, with many customers evaluating it to Infosys founder Murthy’s assertion about working 70 hours a day.
From Bollywood celebrity Deepika Padukone to Harsh Goenka, Chairperson of the RPG Group, high celebrities additionally condemned Mr Subrahmanyan’s remarks.
“90 hours every week? Why not rename Sunday to ‘Sun-duty’ and make ‘time off’ a legendary idea! Working onerous and sensible is what I imagine in, however turning life right into a perpetual workplace shift? That’s a recipe for burnout, not success. Work-life stability is not non-obligatory, it is important. Well, that is my view! #WorkSmartNotSlave,” Mr Goenka posted on X.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV employees and is revealed from a syndicated feed.)