Controversy Surrounds L&T Chairman's Work Ethic Advocacy

SN Subrahmanyan, the chairman of L&T, has recently come under fire for his comments advocating a 90-hour work week. This controversy has been amplified by the revelation that Subrahmanyan received a total compensation of Rs 51 crore in the last financial year, according to L&T's FY24 annual report.

Following the debate sparked by Infosys founder Narayana Murthy's advocacy for a 70-hour work week, Subrahmanyan has further intensified the work-life balance discussion by supporting 90-hour work weeks for employees.

Breaking Down the Compensation

Subrahmanyan’s compensation package comprised Rs 3.6 crore as base salary, Rs 1.67 crore in prerequisites, Rs 35.28 crore in commission, and Rs 10.5 crore in retirement benefits. This means that the L&T chairman’s compensation was more than 500 times higher than that of a regular employee at the organisation.

Social Media Backlash

The L&T chairman faced significant social media criticism, with people questioning the expectation for lower-salaried staff to work identical hours as the chairman. Actress Deepika Padukone contributed to the discussion, expressing disapproval of Subrahmanyan's statements.

L&T issued a statement in response to the backlash, emphasizing their commitment to nation-building and the extraordinary effort required to drive progress and realize the shared vision of becoming a developed nation.