As the controversy over Larsen & Toubro (L&T) Chairman SN Subrahmanyan’s pitch for a 90-hour work week heats up, many company leaders and CEOs have supplied their responses to the chairman’s feedback.
Serum Institute CEO Adar Poonawalla responded to Anand Mahindra remarks on a 90-hour work week.(REUTERS)
In a video circulating on Reddit, Subrahmanyan had requested his workers, “What do you do sitting at home? How long can you stare at your wife? Come on, get to the office and start working.”
In an interview, Anand Mahindra took a dig at Subrahmanyan’s feedback. “My spouse is great, and I really like watching her,” he said.
Responding to his comments, Serum Institute CEO Adar Poonawalla quipped, “Sure Anand Mahindra, even my spouse Natasha Poonawalla thinks I’m great, she loves watching me on Sundays.”
Take a look at the post here:
“High quality of labor over amount at all times,” he added, after Mahindra was asked how many hours he works in a day. “Ask me about the quality of my work, not how many hours I work,” he had responded.
L&T chairman’s 90-hour work week name
Throughout a now viral video of worker interplay, Subrahmanyan was requested why his multi billion greenback firm was nonetheless asking workers to work on a Saturday. He doubled down and mentioned he wished his employees to be within the workplace on Sundays as nicely.
“I remorse I’m not capable of make you’re employed on Sundays. If I could make you’re employed on Sundays, I will likely be extra pleased, as a result of I work on Sundays,” he said.
The statement caused a stir on social media as users criticised the L&T chairman for overlooking the importance of work-life balance for his employees.
L&T responded to the criticism by saying that their chairman’s remarks reflected a “bigger ambition”.
(Also read: ‘I love staring at my wife’: Anand Mahindra takes a swipe at L&T chairman’s 90-hour workweek call)
“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. The Chairman’s remarks reflect this larger ambition, emphasizing that extraordinary outcomes require extraordinary effort,” an L&T spokesperson informed HT.com.