From Narayana Murthy to Bhavish Aggarwal: Indian entrepreneurs who believe employees don't deserve work-life balance
The death of Anna Sebastian Perayil, a young CA who used to work with Ernst & Young (EY) in its Pune office, in July after she suffered a cardiac arrest due to alleged work pressure has rekindled the debate over the lack of work-life balance in the corporate world.??
Debate over work-life balance
Many have argued that the corporate culture, which encourages employees to work long hours without necessary rest, the rat race to meet deadlines, and the perception that leaving offices on time signifies a lack of commitment, has made workplaces a living hell for young employees.??
While many companies and countries, especially in the West, are actively taking steps and even making rules to ensure that employees have a healthy work-life balance, the concept is being scorned in India.??
Narayana Murthy??
The most notable such comment came from Narayana Murthy, the co-founder of tech giant Infosys. In October 2023, while speaking to former Infosys CEO Mohandas Pai, Murthy suggested that Indian youth should work for 70 hours a week to boost the country's economy.?
Despite widespread criticism, Murthy has doubled down on his comments and even said that he would be open to taking feedback from someone more successful than him.??
Shantanu Deshpande??
Before Murthy, Shantanu Deshpande, the founder and chief executive officer of Bombay Shaving Company, had landed in trouble for suggesting that young professionals should devote 18 hours a day to their jobs.??
¡°When you are 22 and new in your job, throw yourself into it. Eat well and stay fit, but put in the 18-hour days for at least 4-5 years. I see a LOT of youngsters who watch random content all over and convince themselves that 'work-life balance, spending time with family, rejuvenation bla bla' is important. It is, but not that early. That early, worship your work¡ Don't do random rona-dhona. Take it on the chin and be relentless. You will be way better for it,¡± Deshpande had said.??
After much criticism on social media, Deshpande issued an apology and said his message was taken out of context.??
Kunal Shah??
Fintech start-up founder Kunal Shah has also advocated against maintaining a healthy work-life balance. In a 2023 podcast, Shah claimed that pursuing a work-life balance will not lead to significant achievements for India.
According to him, India has embraced Western notions of a 'chill life' before reaching developed nation status. He, however, added that work-life balance was a personal choice.??
Bhavish Aggarwal??
Ola CEO Bhavish Aggarwal, who is at war with Western tech companies for their 'woke' policies, also said that he is not a supporter of work-life balance.??
¡°I don¡¯t agree with the work-life balance concept because if you are enjoying your work, you will find happiness in life also and work also, and both of them will be in harmony,¡± Aggarwal had said.
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