BOLLYWOOD: Bollywood actress and mental health advocate Deepika Padukone has expressed shock over Larsen & Toubro (L&T) Chairman S.N. Subrahmanyan’s recent suggestion advocating for a 90-hour workweek, including working on Sundays.
In a video circulating on social media, Subrahmanyan questioned employees’ use of time at home, asking, “How long can you stare at your wife?” He further stated, “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 Sundays.”
Padukone responded by sharing a screenshot of the remarks on her Instagram Stories, captioning it: “Shocking to see people in such senior positions make such statements #MentalHealthMatters.”
Following public backlash, L&T issued a clarification, stating that the chairman’s comments were in the context of the extraordinary efforts required for nation-building. The company emphasized that achieving significant outcomes demands exceptional dedication.
Padukone, unimpressed by the clarification, posted L&T’s statement on Instagram, adding, “And they just made it worse…”
This incident has reignited discussions on work-life balance in India, especially after Infosys Co-Founder Narayana Murthy’s earlier suggestion of a 70-hour workweek for young professionals. Critics argue that such expectations can lead to employee burnout and deteriorating mental health.
Source: Web Team, C6N
