Her reaction highlights increasing worries about work-life balance in India, especially after Subrahmanyan questioned the need for employees to spend time at home. The strong response to his comments shows a wider debate about employee well-being and workplace expectations.
Larsen & Toubro (L&T) Chairman SN Subrahmanyan faced major backlash after supporting a 90-hour workweek, including working on Sundays. His controversial remarks were made during an internal meeting and have since gone viral on social media.
In the video, Subrahmanyan expressed his regret about not being able to make employees work on Sundays, stating, "If I can make you work on Sundays, I will be more happy, because I work on Sundays also." He questioned the value of time spent at home, asking, "What do you do sitting at home? How long can you stare at your wife?" This comment has drawn sharp criticism for its insensitivity towards work-life balance issues.
Subrahmanyan defended his stance by sharing a story about a conversation with a Chinese individual who said Chinese workers often work 90 hours a week, compared to 50 hours in the United States. He stated, "If you have got to be on top of the world, you have to work 90 hours a week," suggesting that such dedication is necessary for success.
The backlash was swift and intense. Bollywood star Deepika Padukone publicly slammed Subrahmanyan's comments, highlighting concerns about employee burnout and mental health. She expressed that such expectations could lead to detrimental effects on personal lives and well-being.
The public response to Deepika Padukone's comment on L&T Chairman SN Subrahmanyan's statement has been very positive, especially from those who support mental health and work-life balance.
In her Instagram story, she wrote, "It’s shocking to see people in high positions say such things. #MentalHealthMatters," pointing out the bad effects such ideas can have on workers' mental health.
Her words were widely shared on social media, with many agreeing that long work hours can harm employees. Other well-known people, like Harsh Goenka of RPG Group, also spoke out, calling the idea of a 90-hour workweek a way to cause burnout, not success. Goenka tweeted, “90 hours a week? Why not rename Sunday to ‘Sun-duty’ and make ‘day off’ just a joke!"
In response to the backlash, an L&T spokesperson defended Subrahmanyan’s remarks, saying, “At L&T, nation-building is central to our mission. The chairman’s comments highlight this ambition, stressing that achieving extraordinary results demands extraordinary effort.”