Bajaj Auto Managing Director Rajiv Bajaj has responded to the recent controversy sparked by Larsen & Toubro (L&T) Chairman SN Subrahmanyan’s suggestion of a 90-hour workweek for employees, stating that if such long hours are indeed required, the practice should begin with the top leadership. In an interview with CNBC-TV18, Rajiv Bajaj addressed the debate by emphasizing the importance of quality work over sheer quantity.
“If you want a 90-hour week, start from the top,” Rajiv Bajaj asserted. He further explained that the number of hours worked is not as important as the quality of work that is delivered. Rajiv Bajaj stressed the need for a kinder and gentler world, acknowledging that in today’s fast-paced work environment, this is more crucial than ever.
Referring to the corporate hierarchy,Rajiv Bajaj pointed out that “the bottleneck is always at the top of the bottle.” He urged leaders to rethink their approach to management and decision-making. Rajiv Bajaj suggested that improving the decision-making process at the top could help empower employees to be more productive and achieve better outcomes. His remarks come in the wake of SN Subrahmanyan’s controversial statements, which prompted outrage on social media.
Subrahmanyan, in a video address to L&T employees, had suggested that to remain competitive, employees should be prepared to work up to 90 hours per week, including Sundays. His comment, “How long can you stare at your wife?” was perceived as a dismissal of the importance of work-life balance. Subrahmanyan even expressed regret that he couldn’t force employees to work on Sundays, as he himself worked on Sundays.
This sparked a strong backlash online, with many drawing comparisons to Infosys founder Narayana Murthy, who had also called for Indian youth to commit to 70-hour workweeks. Social media users criticized Subrahmanyan’s comments, arguing that such expectations could lead to burnout and negatively impact employees’ well-being.
In contrast, Rajiv Bajaj disagreed with the idea of imposing such long working hours. He emphasized that while working hard is important, the focus should always be on the quality, efficiency, and effectiveness of the work done, rather than the number of hours worked. Rajiv Bajaj reiterated that quality is the most critical factor when it comes to achieving success in the workplace.
Harsh Goenka, Chairman of RPG Enterprises, also entered the debate, sharing his opinion on the importance of work-life balance. On X (formerly Twitter), Goenka posted a response to the 90-hour workweek suggestion, humorously proposing that “Sunday” be renamed to “Sun-duty” and that the concept of a “day off” be eliminated altogether. He further commented that, while he believes in working hard and smart, turning life into a never-ending office shift could lead to burnout instead of success. He concluded by emphasizing that work-life balance is not optional, but essential.
This ongoing debate highlights the differing views on the future of work in India. While some leaders advocate for longer hours as a way to stay competitive, others, like Rajiv Bajaj and Goenka, are pushing for a more balanced approach that values quality work and employee well-being. As the conversation around work culture evolves, it is clear that there is a growing demand for leadership to reconsider their strategies to ensure the sustainability of both productivity and the health of their teams.
