"My wife loves staring at me": Adar Poonawalla counters L&T chief's 90-hour workweek proposal

The debate on work-life balance intensified after L&T Chairman SN Subrahmanyan proposed 90-hour workweeks, including Sundays. Subrahmanyan questioned the value of time spent at home, asking, “What do you do sitting at home? How long can you stare at your wife? How long can the wives stare at their husbands?” His comments sparked widespread criticism from industry leaders, sports personalities, and public figures.

Serum Institute of India CEO Adar Poonawalla dismissed the idea, emphasizing the need for prioritizing work quality over excessive hours. Referring to Mahindra Group Chairman Anand Mahindra’s similar stance, Poonawalla said, “Yes [Anand Mahindra], even my wife [Natasha Poonawalla] thinks I am wonderful; she loves staring at me on Sundays. Quality of work over quantity always.” Mahindra had earlier stated that success is about output rather than the number of hours worked.

RPG Group Chairman Harsh Goenka criticized the suggestion, calling 90-hour workweeks a “recipe for burnout, not success.” He humorously proposed renaming Sunday to “Sun-duty,” stressing the importance of maintaining work-life balance. Other leaders have also pointed out that long work hours could harm productivity, morale, and employee retention in the long term.

Prominent voices outside the business sector joined the criticism. Former Indian badminton star Jwala Gutta called the comments “misogynistic” and questioned why spending time with a spouse was being trivialized. She asked why someone should not spend time with their partner, even on Sundays. The remarks have fueled broader discussions about personal time and its value in professional life.

The debate comes as work-life balance gains renewed attention in corporate culture. While some leaders, like Infosys founder Narayana Murthy, have supported longer workweeks in the past, others advocate for sustainable work practices that focus on well-being and productivity. The differing opinions reflect a broader conversation about aligning workplace demands with evolving employee expectations.