Sanjiv Puri, Chairman and Managing Director of ITC Limited, has shared his perspective on the ongoing debate ignited by L&T Chairman SN Subrahmanyan’s controversial comments advocating a 90-hour work week. Puri highlighted the value of flexibility and employee empowerment, stressing that these factors are more important than rigidly tracking work hours.
“We would rather like people to be part of the journey of the company, feel passionately involved, and feel the urge amongst themselves to contribute to the enterprise,” he elaborated. Puri shared that ITC does not believe in imposing a specific number of work hours. Instead, the company focuses on enabling individuals to realise their potential and achieve their goals.
He further highlighted ITC’s commitment to a flexible work environment where employees can work from home two days a week. “It’s more about empowering employees to actualise their potential rather than monitoring their hours,” Puri stated.
The controversy began when SN Subrahmanyan’s comments about the 90-hour work week and working on Sundays went viral, sparking discussions about work-life balance nationwide. Despite the backlash, Subrahmanyan explained that his remarks aimed to inspire greater dedication and energy in the workforce, aligning with India’s current growth opportunities.
Recently, L&T’s HR head Sonica Muraleedharan shared a post on LinkedIn addressing the controversy on 90 hour work week. She emphasized that Subrahmanyan “never implied or mandated 90-hour work weeks.” Muraleedharan went on to portray Subrahmanyan as someone who values his employees, stating, “He treats every employee as part of an extended family… He always encourages us to…grow both personally and professionally.”
This clarification comes after Subrahmanyan’s comments sparked debate about work-life balance and healthy work cultures in India’s corporate sector. Many found the idea of a 90-hour workweek unrealistic and potentially detrimental to employee well-being.
