Be It 70 Hours Or 90, Women Remain Overworked And Least Rewarded

"What do you do sitting at home? How long can you stare at your wife?" said SN Subrahmanyan, Chairman of Larsen & Toubro. in a controversial comment. The business tycoon expressed regret over not being able to make his employees work on Sundays, reasoning that "extraordinary efforts" lead to "extraordinary outcomes". In a video going viral on social media, he can be heard saying, "If I can make you work on Sundays, I will be more happy, because I work on Sundays."

Not only are Subrahmanyam's expectations from workers questionable but the 'stare at wife' remark also has sexist undertones. However, he is not the only one who made such egregious demands from India's already mentally-taxed workforce. Another multi-billionaire businessman recently made a similar comment that raised eyebrows.

L&T Chairman says “ he regrets he’s not able to make us work on Sunday and Sunday’s, 90hrs a week” in a response to his employee remarks
by inIndiaCareers

Narayan Murthy's 70-Hour Proposal

In 2024, Infosys co-founder Narayana Murthy also sparked similar outrage when he advised young people to be willing to work up to 70 hours per week to drive India's productivity and growth. His comments sparked a heated debate on social media and in the press about the culture of overwork, economic inequality, and diversity in India's high-tech sector. 

Billionaire Murthy argued that young Indians must make sacrifices and have a "karmayogi mindset" to build successful careers and contribute to the nation's development. He cited examples of people studying and working long hours in countries like the US and China and said young people in India should have a similar work ethic.

Critics were quick to point out the problematic aspects of both these statements. Working 70 to 90-hour weeks regularly is seen by many as an unreasonable expectation that can lead to burnout and negatively impact mental health and work-life balance. For India's tech workforce, which is already grappling with intense pressure and demanding schedules, the proposals sparked concerns about the sustainability of such work norms.

What About Underrepresented Groups?

As an Indian who pursued higher education abroad and encountered diverse work environments, I've grown to appreciate the importance of achieving a work-life balance that allows me to savour both my career and personal life. In many nations, remuneration is structured around hourly wages, ensuring you receive compensation for each hour dedicated to your job. This model resonates with the fundamental idea that your time holds value, and you should be appropriately rewarded.

Moreover, the idea that young people should make personal sacrifices for the sake of the nation's growth overlooks India's deep economic inequality. While the booming tech sector has produced new wealth, India still has millions struggling with poverty and lack of access to opportunity. Asking young people to overwork for national progress is unfair when the fruits of that labour are so unevenly distributed.

From a diversity and inclusion perspective, Subrahmanyan and Murthy's comments seemed to lack awareness of how excessive work demands can exclude underrepresented groups. For instance, women often shoulder heavy family responsibilities in India and may not be able to sustain 70+ hour work weeks. People with disabilities or health issues may also be unable to adhere to such punishing schedules. Implying that someone who can't work 90 hours lacks drive feeds into simplistic narratives that see diversity as a cultural problem, rather than a consequence of systemic barriers.

This creates a major criticism of the culture in India's tech industry. While companies are happy to talk about diversity and inclusion, the lived reality for many workers, especially women and minority groups, is intense pressure, lack of flexibility, and burnout. Murthy's rhetoric aligns with the mindset that preserving the status quo workplace culture matters more than accommodating diverse perspectives and needs.

In the wake of the controversy, a number of Indian technology professionals spoke up to share their experiences of the industry's excessive demands. Yogita Kadam, the founder of a diversity and inclusion consultancy, tweeted about her gruelling schedules earlier in her tech career, noting that she was often the only woman in late-night coding sessions. Other women in tech echoed how 24/7 work expectations forced some of them to quit eventually.

Activists also pointed out that the tech sector relies heavily on contract workers who lack job security and must put in long hours to retain unstable employment. For these precariously employed groups, the choice is between overwork or no work at all. This exploitative system is concerning from an ethical perspective.

While Murthy later clarified that he did not expect every person to be able to work 70 hours weekly, his initial remarks played into familiar narratives that sustain tech's overwork culture. The ensuing discussion has centred crucial questions about whose labour this system demands, who gets ahead, who gets burned out, and who gets excluded.

Meaningful progress on diversity and inclusion in Indian technology companies will require grappling with these issues rather than doubling down on unrealistic work expectations. Companies will need to interrogate whether their culture is designed for an abstract ideal worker or makes space for diverse peoples' talents and needs. Government and industry leaders will have to ask themselves tough questions about sustainability, equity, and ethics if India is to nurture an innovation society that provides opportunities for all.

The debate sparked by Subrahmanyan and Murthy's comments is a reminder that pursuing inclusion and diversity is about more than just hiring targets and PR campaigns. It requires looking critically at how workplaces are structured, whose interests they serve, and who bears the human cost of the relentless pursuit of growth and success. While there are no easy answers, acknowledging these complex issues is the first step toward building a tech ecosystem that is creative, humane and open to all.

I believe we can honour both hard work and a well-lived life. It's possible to strike a balance that fosters success without sacrificing precious moments with family, hobbies, and self-care.

Views expressed by the author are their own