Larsen & Toubro (L&T) Chairman SN Subrahmanyan has sparked widespread online outrage after advocating for a 90-hour work week, a remark that reignited the ongoing debate about work-life balance. Subrahmanyan’s controversial comments were made in a purported video address to employees, where he encouraged them to spend more time at the office rather than at home.
“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,” Subrahmanyan is heard saying in the undated video circulating on social media. His remarks also included a provocative line: “What do you do sitting at home? How long can you stare at your wife? How long can the wives stare at their husbands? Come on, get to the office and start working.”
The video has since prompted a wave of backlash, with many criticizing Subrahmanyan for his dismissive attitude toward work-life balance. This comes in the wake of a similar debate initiated by Infosys co-founder Narayana Murthy, who suggested a 70-hour work week.
In light of these remarks, a closer look at Subrahmanyan’s salary for the fiscal year 2024 paints a striking contrast with the earnings of the company’s regular employees. According to L&T’s annual report for FY24, Subrahmanyan earned a total of Rs 51.05 crore, which includes a salary of Rs 3.6 crore, perquisites worth Rs 1.67 crore, retirement benefits of Rs 10.5 crore, and a commission of Rs 35.28 crore. This amount is 535 times the median salary of L&T’s over 59,000 permanent employees, who earned a median wage of Rs 9.55 lakh.
The annual report also revealed that the median remuneration of L&T employees had increased by 1.32% in FY24. It further noted that while the average salary increase for non-managerial personnel stood at 1.74%, managerial remuneration, including Subrahmanyan’s, saw a substantial 20.38% rise. The increase in managerial pay was attributed to higher profits and a rise in commission rates.
In response to the uproar over Subrahmanyan’s comments, L&T issued a statement clarifying that his remarks were made in the context of the extraordinary efforts needed to achieve remarkable outcomes for the nation. The company emphasized that nation-building lies at the core of L&T’s mission, underscoring its long history of contributing to India’s infrastructure and technological growth.
“As India’s decade of development approaches, the chairman’s remarks reflect this larger ambition, emphasizing the need for extraordinary efforts to achieve progress,” said an L&T spokesperson.
Despite the company’s clarification, the clash between Subrahmanyan’s statements and his enormous compensation in comparison to employee wages continues to stir debate about fairness and work culture at the company.
