Tech billionaire Elon Musk has reignited the ongoing debate on work-life balance and productivity by claiming that “working the weekend is a superpower.”
In a post on X, Musk stated, “Very few in the bureaucracy actually work the weekend, so it’s like the opposing team just leaves the field for 2 days! Working the weekend is a superpower.” His remarks highlight his philosophy of relentless effort as a key driver of success.
While Musk’s perspective may fuel innovation in high-intensity industries like tech and startups, experts argue that constant weekend work can lead to burnout, decreased efficiency, and poor mental health.
This isn’t the first time Musk has made strong statements about work culture. He has previously criticised remote work, despite working remotely himself. In a 2023 interview, he called work-from-home (WFH) “morally wrong,” arguing that it creates a double standard where white-collar employees stay home while factory workers and delivery drivers must report in person. “The laptop class is living in la-la land,” he declared, emphasising that in-person work fosters productivity and fairness.
One of Donald Trump’s first major moves as president-elect was unveiling the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), appointing billionaire Elon Musk as its head.
Trump hailed the initiative as a bold step toward reducing bureaucracy, eliminating excessive regulations, cutting wasteful spending, and restructuring federal agencies. However, the plan has already sparked widespread controversy. Critics argue that DOGE could face legal challenges, increase the risk of corruption, and ironically add another layer of bureaucracy—contradicting its own mission of efficiency.
The debate extends beyond Musk. Infosys founder Narayana Murthy has also advocated for longer work hours, stating that a 70-hour workweek is necessary for India’s progress. Similarly, Larsen & Toubro (L&T) Chairman SN Subrahmanyan faced backlash after suggesting that employees should work 90-hour weeks.
Nilesh Shah, MD of Kotak Mahindra AMC, commented on Elon Musk’s post saying that the reaction to the tech billionaire’s comment would be interesting. NRM (Narayana Murthy) and SNS (SN Subrahmanyan) both faced backlash for their remarks on long working hours. Murthy suggested a 70-hour workweek for India’s growth, while Subrahmanyan proposed a 90-hour workweek, both of which were widely criticized and turned into memes on social media.
“It will be interesting to see how people react to this comment. Will he get memes like NRM and SNS or will he get appreciation because he is Elon Musk?,” says Nilesh Shah.