
Adar Poonawalla's witty jab adds spark to 90-hour workweek debate
The ongoing debate about extreme work hours gained a humorous twist, courtesy of Adar Poonawalla, CEO of Serum Institute of India.
Weighing in on the topic, Poonawalla delivered a subtle criticism of the 90-hour workweek concept with a witty response.
Reacting to industrialist Anand Mahindra's comment, "My wife is wonderful, I love staring at her," Poonawalla quipped on X, "Yes @anandmahindra, even my wife @NPoonawalla thinks I am wonderful, she loves staring at me on Sundays. Quality of work over quantity always."
Yes @anandmahindra, even my wife @NPoonawalla thinks i am wonderful, she loves staring at me on Sundays. Quality of work over quantity always. #worklifebalance pic.twitter.com/5Lr1IjOB6r
— Adar Poonawalla (@adarpoonawalla) January 12, 2025
The remark follows a controversy ignited by Larsen & Toubro CEO SN Subrahmanyan, who recently advocated for a 90-hour workweek in a viral video.
Subrahmanyan had stated, "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. What do you do sitting at home? How long can you stare at your wife?"
Narayana Murthy 2.0
— बाबू कालिया 🇮🇳 ।। अहस्मि योध:।। (@InfoReader2022) January 9, 2025
This Is Beyond Disgusting.
Just think about the people who work under such management.This is like dictator who want pathetic life for others.Shame on him & the management who pays him for this shit talk.#LarsenToubro pic.twitter.com/qElnlBre87
His comments sparked widespread criticism and reignited the debate on work-life balance.
Anand Mahindra had also addressed the topic during the Viskit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue, expressing his view that "quality of work outweighs the number of hours spent working."
The push for longer work hours has drawn criticism in the past. Last year, Infosys co-founder NR Narayana Murthy proposed a 70-hour workweek to enhance productivity, a suggestion that was met with similar backlash.
However, Subrahmanyan's call for a 90-hour schedule has further intensified the conversation.
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