The debate around optimal work hours following L&T Chairman SN Subrahmanyan’s comments about the 90-hour long work week and working on Sundays has sparked a contentious discussion. While the standard 40-45 hour work week has long been considered a balance between productivity and personal well-being, would extending work hours to as much as 70 or even 90 hours per week lead to accelerated growth and higher productivity?
And what does this mean for startups where employees often work for long hours, especially in the early stages of business, partly driven by the uncertainty of future growth?
Fit for Startups?
Startups are often synonymous with intense work cultures, with founders and employees alike putting in long hours to achieve ambitious goals. In the early stages, startups may demand more than 45 hours per week from their teams, driven by the urgency to secure funding, develop products, and capture market share.
However, it is also important to note that startup cultures vary widely. Not all startups want employees to toil. Many of them embrace long hours as a temporary necessity during growth phases. Employees are also often motivated by equity stakes that give them a sense of ownership and the excitement of ‘disrupting’ the market. Many offer more agility and flexibility in terms of how and where work is done.
“It doesn’t matter to us whether someone works five hours a day or ten hours a day—we don’t track the number of hours invested. What matters is the output and whether the individual has achieved the KPIs we’ve set for them,” Akash Gupta CEO & Co-founder, Zypp Electric told FE Aspire.
As a startup, there are times when hustling is necessary to drive certain KPIs to the next level. But there are also periods when the job is done, and one can take a moment to recharge and plan for the next phase, he said.
“I believe work and life are most fulfilling when they merge seamlessly. Ultimately, it’s not about the hours you put in but the quality of time and effort you invest, whether in work or personal relationships. A balanced and mindful approach ensures sustained productivity and happiness for everyone on the team,” Gupta added.
L&T’s Subrahmanyan’s comments on the 90-hour work week went viral through an undated video wherein he remarked, “How long can you stare at your wife?”, urging employees to work even on Sundays. Earlier last year, Infosys co-founder Narayana Murthy had also advised youth to work for 70 hours per week to boost India’s economy. His statement had also received flak from industry representatives and employees.
Reacting to Subrahmanyan’s remarks, Sagar Daryani, Co-founder and CEO of QSR chain WOW! Momo quipped, “Don’t have a wife yet but now craving big time to hopefully get hitched soon. Would love to stare at her endlessly irrespective of weekdays or weekends, irrespective of Sundays or Mondays. It’s not about 90 hour or 100-hour work weeks – it’s about both quality and quantity time while building a startup or a relationship.”
“It’s never about work-life balance, it’s always about work-life integration. Feel sad for those who definitely don’t appreciate the true worth,” he said.
Namita Thapar, Executive Director, Emcure Pharmaceuticals and one of the sharks on Shark Tank India programme also reacted saying, “If I work 90 hours a week, how will I have time for philosophy, bollywood and shayari, that have taught me some of my best leadership lessons and helped me improve my quality of work and outcomes?”
Diminishing Returns
According to various studies, productivity peaks at around 35-40 hours in a week, with diminishing returns beyond this range. For instance, research from the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) noted that as hours increase beyond 50 per week, productivity per hour decreases significantly.
Another study by Stanford University found that productivity sharply declines after 50 hours per week and is almost negligible beyond 55 hours.
Moreover, a study on reducing work hours in Iceland recently showed that shorter work weeks led to maintained or even improved productivity while enhancing workers’ happiness and work-life balance. Further, in countries like the Netherlands and Denmark, which rank high in happiness and productivity, shorter work weeks of around 30-35 hours are common.
Reacting to the 90-hour work week suggestion, Pranay Aggarwal, CEO, Moneywise Finvest said burnt-out employees don’t build thriving companies.
“Working hard is essential, but so is working smart. Productivity isn’t about the number of hours it’s about the value created in those hours. Yes, there are phases in life or certain industries where long hours are unavoidable. But making it a norm? That’s a slippery slope. Burnt-out employees don’t build thriving companies.”
Growth Shortcut
Proponents of longer work weeks argue that working 70-90 hours could fast-track personal and organizational growth. High-profile figures, such as Elon Musk, have championed this idea, stating that extended hours can give companies and individuals a competitive edge. However, startup founders and other critics question whether this intense regimen is sustainable.
“We’re still stuck in an outdated factory model where performance is measured by time spent, not value delivered. For knowledge work, this doesn’t hold up. We need smarter systems that prioritize outcomes, creativity, and well-being. And about the whole “staring at your wife” bit – let’s add a dash of humanity here. Life isn’t just about clocking hours or staring at your wife (or at anyone). It’s about finding balance, nurturing relationships, and, dare I say, having time to live meaningfully outside work,” said Amaresh Ojha, Co-founder at sales training software startup Trovex.ai.
The debate around 70-90 hour work weeks reflects a deeper question about what truly drives success—raw effort or strategic, balanced work. While extended hours may seem like a shortcut to growth, the long-term impacts on employee well-being, retention, and creativity suggest otherwise.