
A Call for Fairness and Efficiency
An INSEAD graduate, Akshat Kharbanda, has ignited a crucial conversation in India by questioning the 90-hour workweek narrative promoted by L&T chairman SN Subrahmanyan. Kharbanda's pointed questions on LinkedIn have resonated widely, challenging the logic and fairness of such expectations.
Kharbanda's critique goes beyond mere rhetoric. He asks, "If I give you 90 hours, are you giving me 90-hour pay? Promotions? Equity? Or just lip service on ‘patriotism’?" He emphasizes the need to value results over hours and people over optics.
The controversy began with Subrahmanyan's defense of mandatory Saturday workdays, drawing comparisons to China's alleged 90-hour work ethic. However, his comments failed to address crucial aspects like overtime pay and job security.
Kharbanda further questions the efficiency of overwork culture, asking, "How much of this work is truly value-adding, and how much is just performative busyness?" He challenges the outdated comparisons to countries like China and Singapore, questioning their relevance in the modern Indian context.
IIT Mandi professor Nirmalya Kajuri adds another dimension to the debate, highlighting the lack of overtime pay in India despite companies routinely demanding 50-60 hours of work. He observes that if India implemented overtime pay, corporate bosses would suddenly become champions of work-life balance.
Kharbanda concludes by emphasizing that hard work matters when it contributes to growth, goals, and meaningful outcomes. However, working just to meet irrational expectations is neither efficient nor sustainable.
This debate highlights the need for a shift in India's work culture, prioritizing efficiency, fairness, and employee well-being over unrealistic expectations and performative busyness.