Business

Narayana Murthy Advocates 70-Hour Work Week: Insights from Global CEOs

Infosys founder NR Narayana Murthy ignited a substantial online debate by advocating for a 70-hour work week. During a podcast appearance, Mr. Narayana Murthy highlighted India’s low work productivity on a global scale and urged the youth to contribute to cultivating a culture that would enable India to compete effectively worldwide. He drew parallels with Japan and Germany, two countries that implemented extended working hours post-World War II. However, he is not the first corporate leader to propose such an approach.

Bhavish Aggarwal, CEO of Ola, endorsed Mr. Narayana Murthy’s advice, stating on X (formerly Twitter) that it is “our moment to go all in and build in one generation what other countries have constructed over many generations.”

This is not the first time Mr. Narayana Murthy has called for long working hours. In 2020, he encouraged professionals to work 60 hours a week for two to three years to stimulate the post-pandemic economy.

Jack Ma, the founder of Alibaba, previously endorsed China’s tech industry’s controversial “996” rule, which entails working from 9 am to 9 pm six days a week and is common among the country’s major technology companies and startups. However, this drew criticism from Chinese social media users who argued that it adversely affects family life.

Elon Musk, the world’s richest individual and CEO of multiple companies, asked Twitter staff to work more than 100 hours per week after acquiring the company in October of the previous year. Musk emphasized the need for an “extremely hardcore” approach for Twitter’s success, sharing that he sometimes sleeps in the office and expects the same commitment from the staff.

Similarly, Shantanu Deshpande, CEO of Bombay Shaving Company, stated in a LinkedIn post that newcomers should work 18 hours a day for at least 4-5 years, alongside maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

Surveys have shown varying work patterns among CEOs. A Harvard Business Review survey from 2018 revealed that U.S. CEOs work 9.7 hours on weekdays and an additional 3.9 hours on weekends. They often dedicate extra time during weekends and vacations. Another survey of 357 Indian CEOs of listed Indian manufacturing firms indicated that the average Indian CEO works 39 hours a week, equating to 8-9 hours per weekday.

Priyanka Rai

Recent Posts

PM Modi Announces Sending Lord Buddha’s Relics To Thailand

PM Modi announced that India will send relics of Lord Buddha, discovered in Gujarat’s Aravalli…

8 hours ago

PM Modi Shares Highlights From Bangkok: A Vibrant Welcome, Community Connect, & The Ramayan!

Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighted the deep cultural ties between India and Thailand during his…

8 hours ago

Judicial Strength At Risk, Says Delhi HC Bar Association On Justice Singh’s Transfer

The Delhi High Court Bar Association has raised concerns over Justice Chandra Dhari Singh’s transfer…

9 hours ago

PM Modi: Thailand Key To India’s ‘Act East’ Policy & Indo-Pacific Vision

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his visit to Bangkok, highlighted Thailand's strategic importance in India's…

9 hours ago

Thailand Releases Commemorative Stamp Showcasing 18th-Century Ramayan Murals During PM Modi’s Visit

Thailand unveiled a commemorative stamp featuring 18th-century Ramayan mural paintings, marking the first day of…

10 hours ago

Centuries-Old Bonds Strengthen As India-Thailand Deepen Partnership: PM Modi

PM Modi and Thai PM Paetongtarn Shinawatra elevate India-Thailand ties to a strategic partnership in…

10 hours ago