From Infosys to Akasa: Work-life balance dialogue continues

India Today

2 days ago

When Infosys, one of India's IT behemoths, recently sent an internal advisory urging employees not to overwork and to maintain a "balanced work-life schedule," the move surprised many, especially given the contrasting views held by its own founder. Just months earlier, Infosys co-founder N.R. Narayana Murthy had made headlines advocating a 70-hour workweek to boost India's productivity. His remark stirred intense debate in India Inc and beyond, pitting old-school hustle culture against a growing wave of wellness-first corporate values.advertisementNow, as workplaces evolve in a post-pandemic, hybrid-working world, leaders across industries from tech and aviation to FMCG and consulting are redefining the boundaries of what work-life balance should truly mean. Here's a deep dive into what top CEOs are saying, and how their words are reshaping workplace cultures worldwide.NARAYANA MURTHY, FOUNDER, INFOSYS - "70 HOURS A WEEK"In October 2023, Narayana Murthy stirred a national debate by saying young Indians should work 70 hours a week to lift the country's productivity levels.
"India's work productivity is one of the lowest in the world. My request is that our youngsters must say, 'This is my country. I want to work 70 hours a week.'"- Narayana Murthy While some entrepreneurs praised his "discipline-first" stance, others called it tone-deaf in an era of rising burnout and mental health awareness.INFOSYS MANAGEMENT - "MIND YOUR HEALTH"advertisementContrary to Murthy's stance, Infosys itself recently issued a wellness advisory to employees urging them to avoid long hours and "maintain a balanced work-life schedule.""Please ensure your total work time does not exceed 9.15 hours per day Your health is important."- Infosys internal note, May 2025 The company also flagged that many employees were logging extra hours while working from home, pushing leaders to re-emphasize health and sustainable productivity.ASHWIN YARDI, CEO, CAPGEMINI INDIA - "LET'S NOT EMAIL ON WEEKENDS"In a bold and refreshing stance, Ashwin Yardi urged Capgemini's workforce to keep their workweek within 47.5 hours around 9.5 hours per day and avoid sending emails on weekends."Let's not glorify overwork. We must respect personal time and create a culture where people don't feel the need to prove productivity by long hours."- Ashwin Yardi, in an internal memo .Capgemini's move was widely appreciated for fostering a culture of respect, discipline, and boundaries, all while meeting performance expectations. VINAY DUBE, CEO, AKASA AIR - "IF I'M NOT DOING 70-HOUR WEEKS, WHY SHOULD THEY?"Vinay Dube delivered one of the most humanistic takes on the debate, rejecting the glorification of grind culture. Speaking at a conference, he said:"I don't work 70 hours a week myself, so I don't expect youngsters to. We must lead by example, not exhaustion."- Vinay Dube at India Economic Conclave advertisementHis comments resonated deeply with Gen Z and millennials who are increasingly prioritizing flexibility and fulfilment over traditional definitions of success.
SINDHU GANGADHARAN, MD, SAP LABS INDIA - "OUTCOMES, NOT HOURS"The head of SAP Labs India and Chairperson of Nasscom, Sindhu Gangadharan, weighed in with a balanced view, advocating outcome-based work instead of time-clocked performance."We should be moving from inputs to outcomes. What matters is what gets done, not how many hours you sit in front of a screen."- Sindhu Gangadharan at an industry panel discussionSAUGATA GUPTA, CEO, MARICO - "BALANCE IS KEY"Saugata Gupta offered a more nuanced take, accepting that leadership sometimes requires odd hours, but emphasized that employees shouldn't be expected to follow suit."As leaders, we may have to work late sometimes, but it's our job to create an environment where our teams can switch off."- Saugata Gupta in media interactions S.N. SUBRAHMANYAN, CEO, LARSEN & TOUBRO - "WORK 12 HOURS A DAY"advertisementOn the other end of the spectrum, S.N. Subrahmanyan said Indian workers should be clocking 84 to 90 hours a week, including Sundays, to compete globally."The young must work 12 hours a day for six days a week. That's the only way to build the country."- S.N. Subrahmanyan quoted in Financial TimesHis comments attracted sharp criticism and triggered widespread debates on toxic hustle culture, particularly in the engineering and infrastructure sectors.A CULTURAL RESET IN PROGRESSFrom Infosys's U-turn to Capgemini's weekend email embargo, corporate India is slowly shifting toward a healthier relationship with work. While titans like Murthy and Subrahmanyan still see long hours as essential for national progress, many modern CEOs are proving that productivity need not come at the cost of well-being. In the end, the debate isn't about 70-hour weeks or 9-to-5 shifts, it's about trusting employees, measuring impact, and respecting human limits. The narrative is evolving, and so are the expectations, from both leadership and the workforce.- Ends