Larsen & Toubro Chairman SN Subrahmanyan went viral recently after suggesting employees work 90-hour weeks and skip Sundays. His now-infamous comment, "What do you do sitting at home? How long can you stare at your wife?" sparked a social media frenzy, with trolls having a field day. Just when things were starting to settle down, L&T's Head of HR, Sonica Muraleedharan, jumped in to defend his remarks¡ªonly to find herself at the center of the backlash. The internet drama just keeps escalating!
"It's truly disheartening to see how the words of our MD & Chairman, S.N. Subrahmanyan (SNS), have been taken out of context, leading to misunderstandings and unnecessary criticism," she began. "Having been present during the internal address, I can confidently state that SNS never implied or mandated 90-hour workweeks. His remarks were casual in nature and have been misinterpreted, fuelling a controversy that doesn't reflect his true intentions."
Highlighting his impact as a mentor and leader, she added, "SNS is, without question, a leader who genuinely cares for his team's well-being. His visionary leadership and deep commitment to supporting his employees set him apart. Working under his leadership has been more than just a job ¨C it has been a transformative experience.."
The internet, as always, isn¡¯t letting this slide without a good roast.
Some couldn¡¯t help but notice how Muraleedharan's defense seemed a little too enthusiastic¡ªalmost like the kind of loyalty that conveniently peaks around promotion season. Not us saying it, of course; that's straight from the internet!
One LinkedIn user dropped this gem: "I admire your loyalty. Anyway, it is promotion time, you will be rewarded. By the way, I did not see any leadership qualities or maturity in the 'casual' remarks made. Sorry to say, but your post has shamed the HR world. This shows how much toxicity is encouraged by HR in an organization."
Another chimed in with: "Ohh! Sonica Muraleedharan ji, does Mr. SNS or yourself nurture your employees by forcing them to work 12 hours a day?"
Someone just said: "I will tell you exactly what this post is: damage control. There were meetings, and every word in this post was checked and edited by the legal team."
And in a mic drop, one commenter summed it up: "Let's not forget that HR is also on the payroll and needs the boss's blessing for a raise¡ªjust like everyone else."
Here are other reactions:
Safe to say, the internet isn't holding back. Whether they are right or not, they have certainly made their opinions loud and clear!
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