Paromita Das
GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 23rd Jan. A recent viral video featuring Larsen & Toubro (L&T) Chairman SN Subrahmanyan advocating a 90-hour work week has reignited discussions about the exploitative corporate culture prevalent in Bharat. His statement, which included a controversial quip about workers having nothing better to do than stare at their spouses, was met with a mix of humor, outrage, and memes across social media. While the remarks reflect an antiquated mindset of relentless work as the hallmark of productivity, they also underscore the troubling reality of a corporate environment where work-life balance is dismissed as irrelevant.
Subrahmanyan’s suggestion follows similar calls by other industry leaders, such as Infosys cofounder Narayana Murthy’s proposal for a 70-hour work week. Globally, figures like Elon Musk and Jack Ma have also championed such ideals, reinforcing a troubling trend among elite executives who advocate for grueling schedules while drawing astronomical salaries. However, for the average employee, the reality of these demands is far from the glamorous lifestyle of corporate leaders. Instead, it often leads to burnout, stress, and an unsustainable existence.
Corporate Bharat’s Faustian Bargain
Corporate Bharat has long idealized a hyper-competitive work culture where employees are expected to sacrifice their personal lives in exchange for career advancement and financial stability. The reality, however, is that the supposed perks of private-sector employment have steadily eroded over the years. Once seen as the epitome of success, private-sector jobs now come with stagnating wages, grueling expectations, and shrinking benefits.
Young professionals entering the workforce are lured by the promise of high salaries and modern workplaces. However, they quickly find themselves locked in a Faustian bargain—working impossible hours to meet unachievable targets, often at the cost of their physical and mental health. Recent instances, such as the tragic death of a young corporate employee due to work-related stress, have highlighted the human cost of this relentless pursuit of productivity.
The Allure and Burden of Corporate Success
While corporate executives like Subrahmanyan and Musk enjoy immense wealth and privileges, the conditions for their employees tell a starkly different story. For instance, Subrahmanyan’s salary package of ₹51 crore stands in sharp contrast to the median annual wage of ₹9.55 lakh for L&T employees. This widening gap between executive compensation and employee wages epitomizes the systemic inequities within corporate Bharat.
Employees in sectors such as investment banking, consulting, and IT are often glorified for their hard work and high salaries. However, the realities behind these jobs—excessive work hours, limited personal freedom, and constant stress—rarely come to light. The global financial crisis of 2008 served as a wake-up call, exposing the fragility of the so-called “corporate dream.” Many executives defaulted on loans and credit cards, highlighting the precariousness of their flashy lifestyles, which were often funded by debt rather than genuine wealth accumulation.
A Toxic Culture of Overwork
The relentless pressure in corporate workplaces often manifests as toxic work environments where employees are dehumanized. Reports of Amazon employees being timed during toilet breaks or forbidden to leave workstations until targets are met exemplify the darker side of corporate efficiency. These conditions have become normalized, with employees silenced by an unspoken “omertà”—breaking the code of silence risks not just termination but ostracization from the industry.
The culture of overwork is further exacerbated by Bharat’s high unemployment rates and shrinking government job opportunities. With limited options, employees are forced to endure exploitative practices, knowing that walking away could mean prolonged joblessness. This desperation enables corporations to tighten their grip on workers, stripping away benefits and increasing workloads.
Government’s Role and Failure to Act
Despite the glaring issues within corporate India, government intervention remains minimal. Regulatory bodies and labor departments have largely turned a blind eye to the exploitation of workers, while political leaders often echo corporate rhetoric rather than addressing systemic issues. For instance, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman’s recent comments on a corporate employee’s death due to stress placed the onus on families to “teach resilience,” rather than addressing the systemic pressures that led to the tragedy.
This indifference extends to human rights commissions and other oversight bodies, which often promise justice but rarely follow through with actionable reforms. The absence of robust labor laws and enforcement mechanisms leaves employees vulnerable to unchecked exploitation.
Redefining Work Culture in Bharat
The 90-hour work week debate exposes a deeper issue within Bharatiya corporate culture—a fundamental disregard for the well-being of employees. While the rhetoric of long hours may appeal to leaders who equate hard work with success, it overlooks the human cost of such expectations. Burnout, mental health issues, and declining productivity are inevitable outcomes of an overworked workforce.
It is time for Bharat to reevaluate its approach to work culture. The narrative that equates overwork with ambition must be replaced with one that values balance, sustainability, and employee well-being. Countries that prioritize work-life balance, such as those in Scandinavia, have demonstrated that shorter workweeks can lead to higher productivity and happier employees.
Conclusion: The Need for Structural Change
Bharat’s corporate sector must confront its toxic work culture and the systemic inequities that underpin it. While executives like Subrahmanyan and Murthy champion longer workweeks, their employees face the brunt of these demands without the corresponding benefits.
The government has a critical role to play in addressing these issues. Establishing clear guidelines for working hours, mandating paid time off, and enforcing penalties for non-compliance are essential steps toward creating a more equitable workplace. Moreover, promoting transparency in executive compensation and ensuring fair wages for all employees can help bridge the widening gap between leaders and workers.
Ultimately, a healthy workforce is the backbone of any thriving economy. For Bharat to achieve sustainable growth, it must prioritize the well-being of its workers over the short-term gains of corporate productivity. Without systemic reform, the cycle of exploitation will continue, leaving employees trapped in a toxic ecosystem that values profit over people.
The post The 90-Hour Work Week Debate: A Grim Reflection of Corporate Bharat’s Toxic Culture appeared first on Global Governance News- Asia's First Bilingual News portal for Global News and Updates.
