Naushad Forbes, co-chairman of Forbes Marshall and former President of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), has shared his perspective on the ongoing debate sparked by recent comments from business leaders advocating for extended work hours. Specifically, Forbes considered comments made by Larsen Toubro (L&T) Chairman SN Subrahmanyan who proposed that people should work 90 hours per week, including on Sundays.
Speaking with journalist Karan Thapar for The Wire, Forbes remarked that such comments should not be taken too seriously, as they are often made casually and without significant forethought. He said, “They are apparently coming about without it being the most careful of thought. They are presented as a rather informal remark, perhaps in a certain context. I would not rely so heavily on what each person does say. One person says 70 hours, another says 90 hours. I don’t take that seriously.”
The Controversy: Subrahmanyan’s Remarks
Subrahmanyan’s remarks stirred widespread criticism after he suggested in an internal interaction that employees should work 90 hours a week to remain competitive. His comments included statements like, “How long can you stare at your wife? and, “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 also.
Subrahmanyan’s remarks came in the wake of the same argument put forth by Infosys co-founder Narayana Murthy in October of 2023, when Murthy argued in favor of a 70-hour work week for young workers.
Forbes: Focus on Quality, Not Quantity
Forbes highlighted the value of quality rather than time spent, which also resonates with the opinions of the Mahindra Group’s Chairperson Anand Mahindra. “What you want is the full engagement of people’s heads,” he said. He added that as modern work relies more on intellectual effort than manual labor, the quality of thought and decision-making is critical.
“I’m pretty sure that if one works 90 hours a week, ideas will probably suffer, quality will probably suffer, and you’ll actually end up with less than you would like,” Forbes elaborated.
Two-Day Weekend and Productivity
Forbes includes in the discussion of the necessity of a two-day weekend a company’s account of the transition from a 5.5-day work week to a five-day work week. He noted that this change did not result in a loss of productivity.
“As a company, we’ve had a two-day weekend now for 50 years. When we actually went to a five-day week, work didn’t suffer. We got just as much done. The company kept on expanding at the same pace,” he said. Forbes also highlighted the significance of personal time, saying, “For many people, it’s very important to have time off to do the things that they really want to do that may not be work connected.”.
Productivity vs. Longer Hours
Forbes acknowledged Narayana Murthy’s focus on productivity but disagreed with the emphasis on extended work hours. “Murthy’s comment was very focused on productivity. That general point I fully agree with. I don’t agree with the number of hours thing. Productivity is the source of growth and development. And that’s how we will become a more prosperous and wealthy nation, he declared.
Defending Subrahmanyan’s Comments
It’s so sad to watch the way the words of our MD Chairman, SN Subrahmanyan, are being misconstrued and construed in the wrong way to generate a wrong impression and criticism.
Muraleedharan clarified that Subrahmanyan’s remarks were casual and not intended as a directive or policy. She added that his comments aimed to inspire competitiveness and commitment among employees.
Broader Implications
The controversy brings to light an emergent discussion concerning work-life balance and performance in the speed-paced and competitive reality of today. Although there are proponents, like Elon Musk and Jack Ma, of longer working weeks, others, like Forbes, advocate a more hyphenated one, balancing quantity with quality, innovation and benefits to employees.
Forbes’ comments highlight the necessity to reform productivity measures in the contemporary workplace. He proposes, in fact, that instead of encouraging arduous schedules, companies should try and create an environment conducive to creativity, strategic thinking, and good decision making.
This argument still holds weight in other fields, leading important questions about the work of the future and how to reconcile organizational objectives with employee well-being.
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