Infosys co-founder NR Narayana Murthy has reportedly clarified his earlier remarks on working 70 hours a week, emphasizing that individuals should have the freedom to make their own choices. Murthy’s comment last year about working 70-hours a week sparked a widespread debate on social media, prompting several top industry leaders to express their opinions on work-life balance.
“There’s nobody who can say you should do this, you should not do it,” said Murthy during his lecture at the Kilachand Memorial in Mumbai on Monday. However, Murthy also shared his insights on how he worked extra hours when he was building Infosys. “I used to get to the office at 6:20 am and leave at 8:30 pm. I’ve done it for 40-odd years. That’s a fact. So nobody can say that’s wrong,” he remarked.
Murthy said that individuals should choose their own working hours and that people should not debate this personal decision on public platforms. “These are not issues that should be discussed and debated. These are issues that one can introspect on, one can ingest, and one can come to some conclusion on and do whatever they want,” he said.
Narayana Murthy: The Statement That Sparked Controversy
In October 2023, Murthy sparked controversy by suggesting that Indian youths should work 70 hours a week to enable the country to compete with rapidly developing nations like China and Japan.
Larsen & Toubro (L&T) Chairman SN Subrahmanyan further fuelled outrage on social media when he mentioned a 90-hour workweek. “I regret I am not able to make you work on Sundays. If I can make you work on Sundays, I will be more happy, because I work on Sundays,” said Subrahmanyan, supporting his 90-hour workweek comment.
However, billionaire Gautam Adani and others emphasized the importance of personal flexibility, and work-life balance. “Your work-life balance should not be imposed on me or vice versa,” said Adani.
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