After L&T defends chairman’s 90-hour workweek statement, Bollywood actor Deepika Padukone says, ‘And they just…’
L&T tried to justify its Chairman Subrahmanyan's remark on the 90-hour workweek, saying that it reflects this larger ambition of nation-building.
A day after the Larsen & Toubro (L&T) Chairman SN Subrahmanyan's 90-hour workweek “shocked” the Bollywood actor Deepika Padukone, the company's attempt at justification has elicited another response from her.
After a nationwide backlash, L&T made an official statement saying “nation-building is at the core" of its mandate and that “the chairman’s remarks reflect this larger ambition.”
Sharing a screenshot of this statement, Deepika, an entrepreneur herself, said, “And they just made it worse…”
This wasn't the Bollywood actor's first reaction to the 90-hour workweek.
Earlier yesterday, Deepika, a strong advocate for mental health, posted Subrahmanyan's remark on her story with the caption: “Shocking to see people in such senior positions make such statements. #MentalHealthMatters.”
What did L&T Chairman SN Subrahmanyan say about the 90-hour workweek?
During a recent employee interaction, L&T Chairman SN Subrahmanyan advocated for a 90-hour work week.
Subrahmanyan questioned the necessity of time off, asking, “What do you do sitting at home? How long can you stare at your wife?”
He also expressed regret that he couldn't mandate Sunday work, stating that he would be “happier” if employees worked on weekends as he does.
His remarks follow a similar statement by Infosys founder Narayana Murthy, who suggested a 70-hour work week for young professionals.
What did L&T say in its official statement defending Subrahmanyan?
L&T tried to justify its Chairman's remark on the 90-hour workweek, saying that it reflects this larger ambition of nation-building.
“Nation-building is at the core of our mandate. For over eight decades, we have been shaping India’s infrastructure, industries, and technological capabilities,” the statement read.
“We believe this is India’s decade, a time demanding collective dedication and effort to drive progress and realize our shared vision of becoming a developed nation. The chairman’s remarks reflect this larger ambition,” it added, emphasising that extraordinary outcomes require extraordinary effort.
L&T’s HR head says Subrahmanyan is a ‘leader who genuinely cares…’
Sonica Muraleedharan, the HR head for L&T's domestic operations, has reacted to the controversy and said that she can personally vouch for Subrahmanyan's leadership style, and called him a leader who genuinely cares for his team’s well-being.
She took to LinkedIn and said that it was truly disheartening to see how the words of their MD and chairman were taken out of context, leading to misunderstandings and unnecessary criticism.
“Having been present during the internal address, I can confidently state that SNS never implied or mandated 90-hour work weeks. His remarks were casual in nature and have been misinterpreted, fuelling a controversy that doesn’t reflect his true intentions,” she said in the post.
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Business NewsNewsTrendsAfter L&T defends chairman’s 90-hour workweek statement, Bollywood actor Deepika Padukone says, ‘And they just…’
First Published:10 Jan 2025, 12:20 PM IST
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