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Netizens Divided Over Narayana Murthy’s ‘Work 70 Hrs Per Week’ Statement; No Work-Life Balance?

by Shreya Rathod
Netizens Divided Over Narayana Murthy’s ‘Work 70 Hrs Per Week’ Statement; No Work-Life Balance?

In today’s world, it is very important to maintain a work-life balance for better physical, mental and emotional well-being. Though there is a set 9-5 work rule, it is not always the case. Indians in particular may have dealt with toxic work environments, involving borderline micromanaging. Recently, Infosys co-founder, N R Narayana Murthy made a statement about the need for the young generation to work for 70 hours per week. And this has sparked a debate among Netizens, many of whom are criticising his view.

Narayana Murthy Says, Youngsters Should Work For 70 Hours Per Week

In a recent interview, NR Narayana Murthy expressed his views regarding work productivity in India. He further noted that it was the lowest in the world. According to him, if India wants to compete with other economies, the youngsters need to work for a minimum of 70 hours per week.

He further expressed that the Indian youth has embraced habits from the West which are neither desirable nor beneficial. So, unless there is no corruption or improvement in work productivity, India won’t be able to make any progress.

Ola co-founder, Bhavish Aggarwal, came in support of Narayana Murthy’s views. As per his X post, Indians shouldn’t be taking this opportunity to relax and work less. Instead, this is their chance to fully commit to building in a single generation what other nations have taken many decades to create.

However, many people on social media have criticised his statement and given their opinions. Ronnie Screwvala, an Indian entrepreneur and film producer, expressed his disagreement with Narayana Murthy. According to his post on X, working for longer hours won’t help in boosting productivity.

Also Read: From A Rising Agave Revolution To New-Age Brands, How The Indian Alcohol Industry Is Growing

However, upskilling, a positive work environment, and fair pay would definitely contribute towards a better output. He further noted that quality work is more important than just clocking more hours!

Netizens Have Expressed Their Disagreement

Other people have shared their honest opinions about the statement. A user wrote that with all due respect, he disagrees with Mr. Narayan Murthy’s recent assertion that he works seventy hours a week. While working hard is important, it’s also critical to give employee well-being, mental health, and work-life balance a top priority. They should prioritise producing high-quality work above quantity.

Another user shared a calculation of pay that every worker would get if they followed the businessman’s statement. He wrote that the average pay is ₹3 lakh pa. And after deductions, the pay is ₹20k per month which is ₹5k per week. If one works 70 hours a week, the hourly wage is approximately ₹72, which is even less than a dollar.

Commenting on this statement, a user wrote, “Ask Mr Narayanmurthy if he is willing to pay overtime. Apart from being grossly underpaid, Infosys employees have to tolerate a toxic work culture.”

Another user shared his opinion and stated, “Completely against Mr Narayan Murthy’s 70 working hour model. Not primarily cuz of the hours but the money. The relationship between an employer & an employee is strictly business.”

A user sarcastically remarked, “Narayan Murthy wants youth to ‘work 70 hours/week’ to up India’s productivity. By that logic, wouldn’t 140 hours be even better? No need to rest mind & body—what a waste of time! Let youth slog, so your bank balance can soar even more”

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Comment below and share your thoughts about the work-life balance in India.

Cover Image Courtesy: Infosys/ Website & Saurabh shukla/ X (Formerly, Twitter)

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