L&T Highlights ‘Mandatory Annual Leave, Stress Management’ Amid Controversy Over ‘90-Hour Work Week’

Larsen & Toubro (L&T) sparked a social media uproar on Friday after Chairman S.N. Subrahmanyan’s controversial remarks advocating 90-hour work weeks went viral. The backlash prompted the company to issue a clarification. Amid the controversy, L&T’s annual reports, which emphasize the importance of stress management and maintaining a healthy work-life balance, have come under scrutiny.

In an undated video clip, Subrahmanyan can be heard saying, “How long can you stare at your wife? I regret that I can’t make you work on Sundays. If I could, I’d be happier because I work on Sundays.” His comments have drawn further attention to the company’s public stance on stress management and employee well-being.

“The company encourages its employees to adopt stress management practices such as mindfulness, regular exercise, and seeking support when necessary. To help employees navigate challenging situations, counselling, coaching, and sensitisation workshops are also being conducted. Additionally, recognizing the importance of a healthy work-life balance and improving the overall employee experience, the company has introduced a mandatory 10-day annual leave policy to ensure employees have time to rest and recharge,” states an excerpt from its 2024 annual report.

The post was called out on Instagram by actor Deepika Padukone, who emphasized the importance of protecting mental health in response to the ‘shocking’ remarks. Meanwhile, Rajya Sabha MP Priyanka Chaturvedi criticized the post, stating it “reeked of a desire to become the new-age slave drivers of India.” Many others have also questioned why highly paid CEOs, who face different job pressures, expect the same level of commitment from lower-paid employees.

The remarks have reignited the ongoing debate on work-life balance, which first gained traction in 2024 after Infosys co-founder Narayana Murthy called for 70-hour work weeks. Murthy argued that India had one of the lowest productivity levels globally and urged young professionals to work harder.

The controversy around L&T’s chairman’s comments prompted the company to issue a clarification, explaining that the remarks were made in the context of the extraordinary efforts needed to achieve significant outcomes for the nation.

“We believe this is India’s decade—a time that calls for collective dedication and effort to drive progress and realize our shared vision of becoming a developed nation. The chairman’s remarks reflect this broader ambition, emphasizing the need for extraordinary effort,” a company spokesperson stated.