Recent comments on a 90-hour workweek by Larsen & Toubro Chairman SN Subrahmanyan have kicked up a storm of criticism and humor on social media platforms. The comments went viral during a video conference and drew immense criticism; the meme fest shows frustration among the public.
The question that Subrahmanyan asked in that controversial video is incendiary: “What do you do sitting at home? How long can you stare at your wife? How long can wives stare at their husbands? Go to the office and start working. Honestly, I am sorry that I am not able to make you work on Sundays. I will be happier if I can make you work on Sundays because I work on Sundays too.”
The fallout has been quick, with social media users on platform X using humor to voice their dissent. One user said, “Wishing everyone a very happy wife-staring day (except L&T employees),” while another said, “Don’t stare at your wife.!! Come to work & stare at someone else’s wife.”
Joining the meme fest, online food delivery giant Zomato chimed in with a funny post: “In case you don’t have a wife, feel free to stare at your order arriving on the app.”
Following the uproar, CPIML Liberation MP Raja Ram Singh responded with a letter to Labour Minister of India Mansukh Mandaviya on January 10, demanding punishment for violations of working hour violations. Singh referred to remarks by high-profile industry leaders like Infosys co-founder Narayana Murthy, who has expressed support for a 70-hour workweek, among other prominent voices like Bhavish Aggarwal of Ola.
Singh enumerated the negative implications of extended working hours: “It is important to note that not only does working longer hours not guarantee increased productivity, but in fact reduces it. One of the serious impacts of long working hours is on health of the workers.”
