Adarsh Samalopanan, Vice Chairman of Yes Bank, added a personal touch to the growing debate over the 90-hour work week controversy at L&T.
Sharing an anecdote from his roommate’s job interview with L&T, Samalopanan revealed how even a passion like basketball became a deciding factor in the company’s hiring process.
During an on-campus internship, his friend faced a difficult dilemma when the interviewer asked him, “If you promise to quit basketball and devote all your time to studies, I will hire you.” »
His friend, who was captain of his college basketball team, replied confidently, “Sir, don’t you think that by keeping myself healthy through sports, I will be able to perform well in the long run?” term for the team? He added that the sport taught him how to deliver results under tight deadlines – valuable skills for a role at L&T.
Despite his reasoning, Samalopan’s friend was rejected. Years later, reflecting on the interview amid the argument over the 90-hour work week, he joked: “Bhai, I should have told them I would quit basketball and even work on Sunday. »
The Central Trade Unions (CTU) on Tuesday condemned Larsen & Toubro (L&T) Chairman SN Subrahmanyan’s statement that advocated extending working hours to 90 hours a week and suggested employees work on Sundays instead of ” watch their wives” at home. .
Although L&T later clarified that the declaration reflected a broader ambition to develop India, it attracted widespread criticism from various groups, including women’s rights activists, for its tone and implications on balance between professional and private life.
The Center of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) compared Mr. Subrahmanyan’s remarks to Infosys founder NR Narayana Murthy’s earlier suggestion of a 70-hour work week, calling it a “rogue competition” between business leaders. company to exploit workers.
CITU general secretary Tapan Sen criticized the proposal, highlighting its negative impact on workers’ health and social lives, especially since Indian employees already work more hours than those in countries like China , Europe and the United States. Former Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh leader Virjesh Upadhyay also condemned the statement, calling it contradictory to the principles of human dignity and work-life balance. He questioned the fairness of such measures coming from individuals earning significantly more than the average worker, emphasizing the need for fair and humane working conditions.
