Now Bajaj Auto MD Rajiv Bajaj and Helios Capital founder Sameer Arora have given their opinion in the debate regarding work-life balance.
- Rajiv Bajaj said that if one wants a culture of working 90 hours a week, it should start from the top leadership.
- At the same time, Sameer Arora said that hard work and discipline are necessary to become a CEO.
Context of the work-life balance debate
The debate started when Infosys co-founder Narayana Murthy suggested that India’s youth should work 70 hours a week to increase the country’s productivity.
- Recently, Larsen & Toubro (L&T) Chairman S N Subramanian said that employees should work for 90 hours and should not shy away from working even on Sundays.
- After these statements, controversy arose on social media and criticisms intensified.
Rajiv Bajaj’s perspective
Rajiv Bajaj stressed the importance of work-life balance.
- He told CNBC-TV18:
- “If you want a 90-hour work culture, it has to start from the top leadership.”
- “Quality of work is more important than working hours. We need compassionate and gentle leadership.”
- Bajaj said that not striking a balance between work and other aspects of life (family, health, and wellness) can cost a lot.
- Describing the role of leadership as important, he said that the weaknesses of the organization often lie at the top level.
Sameer Arora’s experience
Referring to the early days of his career, Sameer Arora said:
- He worked 13-hour days and worked harder in the beginning to learn and advance.
- He said that the working hours in a new office were shorter (9 am to 5 pm), but this became monotonous for him.
- After this he left that company and returned to his old company with more work.
Controversial statement of L&T Chairman Subramanian
A video of L&T Chairman SN Subramanian went viral, in which he asked employees to spend less time at home and more time in the office.
- He quipped:
- “After all, how long can you stare at your wife?”
- He also said that if he gets a chance to make the employees work on Sunday also, he would be more happy.
- His statement drew sharp reactions on social media, and it was described as a violation of the work-life balance of employees.
What does this controversy say?
This debate over work-life balance highlights the need to deeply consider the balance of work hours and personal life.
- While statements by leaders like Narayana Murthy and Subramanian have advocated for increased hard work and productivity, stalwarts like Rajiv Bajaj and Sameer Arora have called for prioritizing quality, balance, and personal development.
