90-hour work week: Amid the ongoing debates over work culture in India, a chartered accountant has come forward to share her personal experience with the culture of hustle. Nitu Mohanka, who transitioned from being a successful chartered accountant to a mental coach, recently took to Instagram to express her thoughts on the negative impact of rush culture on personal life amid the debate surrounding the 90-hour work week.
In her post, Mohanka highlighted how the lure of rush culture often leads people to prioritize work over important milestones in their personal lives. She recalled a time when she herself fell into the trap of working long hours and sacrificing precious moments with her family. It was only when her young daughter drew a family portrait, saying she was absent due to work commitments, that Mohanka realized the toll the rush culture was taking on her life.
“The culture of hustle is attractive. But the promise of 'grind now, enjoy later' is rarely fulfilled,” Mohanka wrote on social media platform Instagram. “I was that person 10 years ago. Wearing the 14-hour workday like a badge of honor. Responds to emails at 3am. My daughter's first step was missed because 'couldn't wait for client meeting'. You know what finally stopped me? A drawing of my 5 year old. A family picture without me. When his teacher asked him why, he said, 'Mom is always in the office'.
These reflections serve as a poignant reminder of the importance of maintaining a healthy work-life balance and prioritizing personal well-being amid the pressures of a demanding work culture.
Mohanka's post came in the backdrop of recent events after L&T chairman SN Subrahmanyan's controversial comments suggesting a 90-hour work week. In a widely circulated video from an undisclosed internal meeting, Subramanian expressed frustration over employees' inability to work on Sundays.
Mohanka emphasized in his post that long hours are not always beneficial. She pointed out that productivity drops significantly after working over 55 hours per week, as long hours can lead to fatigue, reduced innovation and interpersonal relationships.
90 hours vs 70 hours
In a widely shared video, Larsen & Toubro chairman SN Subrahmanyan has come under fire for advocating a 90-hour work week, which includes working on Sundays.
In a meeting with employees, Subraman expressed frustration that staff could not work seven days a week, jokingly questioning what employees do when they are not in the office and suggesting that they come and start work instead of staying at home.
He mentioned his own desire to work on Sundays and expressed a desire for employees to do the same, stating that it made him happy.
Subramanian's comments, reminiscent of Narayana Murthy's earlier controversial remarks about a 70-hour work week, have sparked discussions online about the importance of maintaining a healthy work-life balance in India's private sector.
In a statement, a company spokesperson said, “At L&T, nation building is at the core of our mandate. For more than eight decades, we have been shaping India's infrastructure, industries and technological capabilities. We believe that this is India's decade, a time that calls for collective commitment and effort to drive progress and realize our shared vision of becoming a developed nation. The Chairman's remarks, emphasizing that extraordinary results require extraordinary effort, reflect this great ambition. At L&T, we are committed to fostering a culture where passion, purpose and performance drive us forward.