The recent remarks by L&T Chairman SN Subrahmanyan, suggesting a 90-hour workweek and dismissing personal lives with statements like “How long can you stare at your wife?” reflect a disturbing mindset deeply entrenched in many Indian companies—a Lala company culture that values employee exploitation over innovation and progress.
Such statements not only ignore the importance of mental health, work-life balance, and employee satisfaction but also expose a glaring lack of focus on productivity and innovation. These companies aspire to compare Indian working hours to those in countries like China but conveniently overlook the critical metrics that truly measure economic progress.
India vs. China: The GDP Gap
At $25,015, China’s per capita GDP in 2024 is nearly 2.5 times higher than India’s per capita GDP of $10,123. This stark difference did not exist a few decades ago. In 1980, India’s per capita GDP stood at $582, which was almost double that of China’s $307. Yet, over the years, China has surged ahead due to:
1. Relentless focus on innovation and industrial growth: China emphasized high-value industries and technological advancements, while India remained bogged down in routine, low-value tasks.
2. Infrastructure development and skill enhancement: Instead of exploiting human resources, China created an ecosystem where productivity soared through skill development and technological investments.
3. Clear national vision: Policies aligned with long-term growth rather than short-term labor exploitation.
The Reality of Indian Companies
Instead of introspecting on why Indian companies have failed to reach global competitiveness, directors like Subrahmanyan and Infosys founder Narayana Murthy suggest increasing work hours, pushing the workforce into modern-day slavery under the pretense of “nation-building.”
This is a distraction from the real issues:
• Lack of investment in R&D and innovation
• Low adoption of technology for productivity enhancement
• Absence of focus on employee well-being and work-life balance
A thriving economy is not built on burnout but on efficiency, innovation, and a motivated workforce. The obsession with outdated metrics like longer working hours is not just regressive but also counterproductive.
The Way Forward
If Indian companies truly want to contribute to “India’s decade,” they must:
1. Invest in innovation and technology: Stop treating employees as cogs in a machine and focus on creating systems that multiply productivity without overburdening individuals.
2. Respect employee well-being: Work-life balance, mental health, and personal fulfillment are not distractions but crucial for sustainable productivity.
3. Learn from global benchmarks: Understand that countries like China succeeded by aligning policies and industries with long-term goals, not by squeezing every ounce of energy out of their workforce.
India has the potential to thrive economically, but as long as companies and their leaders operate with a Lala company mindset, our progress will remain stunted. Nation-building requires visionary leadership, not exploitative practices disguised as “extraordinary efforts.”
It’s time for Indian corporates to evolve. Without this shift, the dream of a developed India will remain just that—a dream.