In recent times, comments from Indian billionaires like SN Subrahmanyan, Chairman of L&T, and N.R. Narayana Murthy, co-founder of Infosys, have sparked outrage. Their suggestion that employees should work 70–90 hours a week has highlighted the ever-widening gap between the elite and the common man. This mindset is not just limited to billionaires; it is also evident in the lifestyles of Bollywood actors, sports players, and other so-called “icons” who thrive on the toil of the average worker while enjoying lives of unimaginable luxury.
The Billionaire Ideology: Work Till You Drop
The suggestion of a 70–90-hour work week reflects a deeply exploitative ideology. For billionaires like Subrahmanyan and Murthy, this isn’t about productivity or progress—it’s about maximizing profits while disregarding the well-being of employees. While these billionaires acquire multi-million-dollar mansions across cities and countries, their employees struggle to meet basic needs.
This kind of mindset is a glaring example of modern-day exploitation, where the workforce is seen as little more than cogs in the wheel, expected to sacrifice their health, personal lives, and mental well-being to fulfill the extravagant dreams of their employers.
It is both outrageous and deeply troubling to witness billionaires like SN Subrahmanyan, Chairman of L&T, and N.R. Narayana Murthy, co-founder of Infosys, advocating for a 70–90-hour work week for employees. These proposals are not just tone-deaf—they are reflective of an exploitative mindset that prioritizes profits over people, luxury over labor, and opulence over well-being.
Subrahmanyan’s now-viral comments, where he suggested that employees should also work on Sundays, trivialize the personal lives of millions of hardworking Indians. His dismissive remark, “What do you do sitting at home? How long can you stare at your wife? Get to the office and start working,” is an affront to the dignity of workers. Meanwhile, Narayana Murthy’s call for young Indians to commit to a 70-hour work week further highlights how far removed some of India’s wealthiest individuals are from the realities of the common man.
The Reality of the Common Worker
For the average Indian employee, the reality is starkly different. They are already:
- Spending 2–3 hours daily commuting to work and back, enduring crowded trains and traffic jams.
- Working 9–10 hours in the office, often with little recognition or reward.
- Managing 2–3 hours of household chores and family time, struggling to maintain balance.
- Getting 6–7 hours of sleep, often sacrificing their health to make ends meet.
Where, in this grueling routine, do these billionaires expect employees to find the time for personal care, self-reflection, entertainment, hobbies, meditation, and family bonding? Forget self-improvement—employees barely have time to breathe, let alone work 70–90 hours a week.
A Billionaire’s Luxury vs. An Employee’s Struggles
While these billionaires and corporate leaders suggest overworking as a necessity for competitiveness, they conveniently overlook their own extravagant lifestyles:
- Multi-million-dollar mansions in multiple cities.
- Private jets to hop between luxury vacations.
- A life free of the burdens and anxieties that their employees face every day.
Employees, on the other hand, are forced to fight for basic necessities—affordable housing, decent healthcare, and quality education for their children—while being asked to work longer hours to sustain these billionaires’ empires.
The Bigger Picture: A Deepening Divide
This isn’t just about billionaires pushing for longer work hours. It’s a symptom of a larger issue: the growing divide between the privileged elite and the working majority. Bollywood actors and cricketers flaunt their private jets, lavish homes, and multi-million-dollar endorsements, while the common man is taxed 18% on something as basic as caramel popcorn.
This mindset of exploitation—where the rich demand more from those who have less—needs to be confronted. The narrative that overworking is the only path to success must be dismantled.
The Cost of Exploitative Work Culture
Such toxic work culture is not just unethical—it’s unsustainable. Studies have shown that overworking leads to:
- Burnout: Increased stress, anxiety, and depression among employees.
- Declining Productivity: Exhaustion results in diminished performance.
- Compromised Health: Long hours are linked to heart disease, obesity, and mental health issues.
- High Attrition Rates: Employees eventually leave toxic work environments, costing companies more in the long run.
What We Need Instead
Instead of promoting exploitative work hours, leaders must focus on fostering a sustainable and inclusive work culture. Here’s what they should prioritize:
- Work-Life Balance: Encourage flexible work hours and remote work options to help employees manage their lives better.
- Productivity Over Hours: Focus on results, not the number of hours clocked.
- Mental Health Support: Provide resources to help employees manage stress and prevent burnout.
- Lead by Example: Leaders must model the work culture they want to see—not expect employees to sacrifice their lives while they live in luxury.
Conclusion
SN Subrahmanyan and N.R. Narayana Murthy’s comments are a stark reminder of the widening gap between the corporate elite and the working majority. Their vision of a 70–90-hour work week is not a step toward progress—it’s a step back into exploitation.
The workforce is not a machine to be overclocked for profit. Employees are human beings who deserve dignity, rest, and the opportunity to lead fulfilling lives beyond their jobs. If corporate leaders truly want to see India thrive, they must abandon this exploitative mindset and focus on empowering employees, not overburdening them.
Let’s stop glorifying overwork and start demanding fairness, empathy, and equality in the workplace.
It’s both frustrating and deeply concerning to see billionaires like SN Subrahmanyan, Chairman of L&T, and N.R. Narayana Murthy, co-founder of Infosys, advocating for a 70–90-hour work week for employees. Why? So that they can maintain their lavish lifestyles, purchasing multi-million-dollar mansions in multiple cities and flying in private jets, while the very employees who fuel their empires struggle to meet basic necessities, even after working excessive hours. This isn’t just about billionaires—it’s a reflection of a broader mindset. Look at Bollywood actors and cricketers, who flaunt luxury jets and multiple high-end properties while the common man is burdened with an 18% GST on caramel popcorn. This stark contrast showcases the deepening divide between the privileged few and the millions who labor tirelessly to sustain them. It’s become a habit for these so-called “icons” to exploit the common man’s hard work while enjoying unparalleled luxury themselves. The message is clear: you work harder, and they live better. Is this the kind of society we want to encourage? One where the rich and famous demand more from those who already have less, while they hoard unimaginable wealth? This exploitation mindset needs to be called out. It’s time to demand fairness, equitable work conditions, and an end to this growing inequality. A 70–90-hour work week is not a path to progress; it’s modern-day servitude. Enough is enough.
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