Mohandas Pai, former Infosys CFO and chairman of Aarin Capital, waded into the feud during grueling work weeks, calling the uproar a “waste of airtime.” Reacting to economist Sanjeev Sanyal’s criticism of excessive working hours, Pai dismissed the controversy, arguing that no one is forced to adopt such practices.
“The CEOs have expressed their views. This is their point of view, not a standard or a constraint,” he wrote on X.
The debate, which gained momentum after L&T president SN Subrahmanyan suggested the 90-hour work week and questioned ‘how long can you look at your wife’, has drawn sharp criticism responses from industry executives and economists.
Sanyal criticized the notion of excessive working hours, highlighting their counterproductive effects. “Making this a norm creates moral hazards,” Sanyal tweeted, pointing to industries like investment banking, where employees often abuse their time under the guise of work. “Only a few endure these hours, but even they get exhausted,” he added.
Pai echoed Sanyal’s sentiments, emphasizing that CEOs’ opinions should not be taken as mandates.
The backlash against long work weeks has sparked reactions from other industry leaders. Mahindra Group Chairman Anand Mahindra emphasized the importance of quality over quantity in work. “This debate is going in the wrong direction. In 10 hours you can change the world,” Mahindra said.
Former HCL CEO Vineet Nayar also weighed in, criticizing the glorification of endless working hours. “An unlived life drains energy, creativity and purpose,” Nayar said, adding that a balanced approach is the key to sustainable productivity.
The controversy initially erupted in October 2023 when Narayana Murthy, co-founder of Infosys, suggested young professionals work 70 hours a week to compete globally.
Although Murthy’s remarks found some support, many argue that an excessive work culture harms well-being and productivity.
