Social media has been flooded with memes and reactions after SN Subrahmanyan, Chairman of Larsen & Toubro (L&T), suggested that employees should work up to 90 hours a week. During a recent employee interaction, Subrahmanyan even expressed his preference for employees working on Sundays, stating that he himself works on Sundays. His comments, shared widely on Reddit, have ignited a wave of online reactions, with many mocking the idea of such intense work expectations and questioning the culture of overwork in corporate India.
In the viral video, Subrahmanyan was asked why L&T still requires employees to work on Saturdays. His response: “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,” adding, “What do you do sitting at home? How long can you stare at your wife? Come on, get to the office and start working.” His remarks have since gone viral, with social media users ridiculing his attitude towards work-life balance.
One meme suggested that L&T employees must be desperately applying to Infosys to enjoy 20 extra hours of rest, relaxation, and “wife-staring.” Others pointed out the absurdity of comparing India’s work culture with countries like China, where Subrahmanyan claimed employees work 90 hours a week, while Americans only work 50 hours.
In response to Subrahmanyan’s comments about Sunday work, Bollywood actress Deepika Padukone, an advocate for mental health, voiced her disapproval. Sharing a screenshot of journalist Faye D’Souza’s report, Padukone expressed shock at the statement, adding the hashtag #MentalHealthMatters to emphasize the importance of mental well-being in the workplace.
Subrahmanyan’s comments, reflecting his strong belief in hard work and dedication, have sparked a wider debate about the balance between work and personal life, with many questioning the long-term effects of such extreme expectations on employees’ health and well-being.
