MetroWall Endure Series installed at Corporate Office in New York. (Business Wire via AP)

The CEO of Larsen & Toubro (L&T), S N Subrahmanyan, has faced criticism after suggesting a 90-hour workweek.

During a conversation with employees, he expressed regret that he couldn't make them work on Sundays, despite L&T’s wide-ranging interests in infrastructure, IT, and defense.

“If I can make you work on Sundays, I will be more happy, because I work on Sundays,” Subrahmanyan was heard telling employees in an undated video that has emerged on Reddit. “What do you do sitting at home? How long can you stare at your wife? How long can the wife stare at her husband?” he asked.

Subrahmanyan cited the example of the Chinese, who work 90 hours a week, suggesting that "if you want to be on top of the world, you have to work 90 hours a week."

His statement went viral on social media, drawing sharp criticism from all corners of society. Harsh Goenka, chairman of RPG Enterprises, responded in a post on X, writing, “90 hours a week? Why not rename Sunday to ‘Sun-duty’ and make ‘day off’ a mythical concept!...Work-life balance isn’t optional, it’s essential."

90 hours a week? Why not rename Sunday to ‘Sun-duty’ and make ‘day off’ a mythical concept! Working hard and smart is what I believe in, but turning life into a perpetual office shift? That’s a recipe for burnout, not success. Work-life balance isn’t optional, it’s essential.… pic.twitter.com/P5MwlWjfrk
— Harsh Goenka (@hvgoenka) January 9, 2025

The billionaire founder and chairman of Marico Ltd., a consumer goods company, suggested, “Undeniably, hard work is the backbone of success, but it is not about the hours clocked in.”

Thousands of social media users criticized Subrahmanyan, highlighting the stark contrast between his earnings and those of the average L&T employee. According to company filings, Subrahmanyan earned about $6 million (510 million Indian rupees) in 2023-24, which is 500 times the average salary at L&T.

Celebrities, including top Bollywood actress Deepika Padukone, criticized Subrahmanyan's 90-hour work week remark, emphasizing that such an approach could lead to mental health issues.

Some users supported the L&T chairman's point, responding with memes, while others questioned the context of his remarks. They pointed out that L&T is involved in large-scale infrastructure projects both domestically and internationally, assets that many of Subrahmanyan's critics take pride in.