What’s better for productivity – burning the midnight oil or clocking fewer hours with maximum efficiency? According to L&T’s Chairman S N Subrahmanyan, the answer is simple: Indians should work 90 hours a week to fast-track national development. His rationale? ‘What do you do sitting at home? How long can you stare at your wife?’
This peculiar proposition sent the internet into a frenzy. The resulting memes and debates have arguably been more productive than the 90-hour workweek itself.
Social media reactions flooded faster than you can say ‘overtime,’ with some hailing the work ethic while others joked they would need ‘a second life’ to survive. Bollywood star Deepika Padukone summed up the bewilderment: ‘Didn’t we just master ‘work smart, not hard’?’
And therein lies the conundrum: if we now swear by marathon workweeks, what do we do with all the ‘work smart’ self-help books? Should they be pulped into sticky notes and office diaries?
Marathon hours or mental health?
Not everyone was amused. Badminton champion Jwala Gutta volleyed back with a zinger: ‘It’s sad that such educated people aren’t taking mental health seriously. Why shouldn’t you stare at your wife? Why only on Sunday?’ That’s one return shot that definitely smashed past the corporate net.
The promise of increased productivity may be tempting, but where does efficiency figure in this slog? Instead of chaining workers to their desks, how about reimagining the workplace itself? Why not integrate it into gated communities with flexible hours, hybrid work options, and decent pay for everyone – including bosses? Picture this utopia: grocery runs between Zoom calls, kids’ parks next to boardrooms, and cricket matches to unwind. Paradise or purgatory?
Executives may outsource everything from grocery shopping to school pick-ups, but what about homemakers? Will their newfound freedom mean endless shopping and kitty parties? With dad buried in 15-hour workdays and mom delighting in her autonomy, who will handle PTMs (parent-teacher meetings), playdates, or bedtime stories? Already fragile family bonds may stretch beyond breaking point.
The health toll of endless workweeks
Medical experts have long warned about the dangers of excessive working hours. Studies show that consistently working beyond 55 hours a week increases the risk of heart disease, stroke, and mental health issues like anxiety and depression.
Physical ailments such as chronic back pain, eye strain, and sleep disorders are common complaints among overworked professionals. Dr Sudhir Kumar, a neurologist, notes that burnout from a 90-hour workweek can severely impact long-term productivity, leaving employees drained rather than driven. While dedication may fuel short-term gains, the human body has its limits – and ignoring them can lead to catastrophic health consequences.
A real-life marathon worker
At ‘Gulf News’ in Dubai, we had Forrest Cassidy, a dedicated and tireless senior editor, who came to the office seven days a week by choice. He was always the last to leave around 2am, often switching off the lights and turning off the TV himself. While the rest of us relished five-day weeks and month-long annual vacations, Cassidy took only two weeks off for his yearly cruises for his bespoke suit pilgrimage to Savile Row and the US. We half-joked he would die at his desk unnoticed – but he defied our predictions, passing away in a hospital at 80.
The L&T chief’s productivity pitch may have its merits, but the cost of burnout is real.
Before diving into a 90-hour workweek, ask yourself: While you are busy staring at spreadsheets, lines of code, project reports, and making a PowerPoint presentation, who will be staring at your wife? No one would like that. Right?
