Yes Bank Vice President Adarsh Samalopanan added a personal twist to the growing debate over L&T’s 90-hour workweek controversy.
Sharing an anecdote about his roommate’s job interview with L&T, Samalopanan revealed how even a passion like basketball became a dealbreaker in the company’s hiring process.
During the campus placement, his friend faced a difficult dilemma when the interviewer asked, “If you promise to give up basketball and devote all your time to studies, I’ll hire you.”
His friend, who was the captain of his college basketball team, confidently replied, “Sir, don’t you think that by keeping myself healthy through sports, I will be able to provide for the team for a long time?” He added that sports taught him to deliver results within tight deadlines – valuable skills for a role at L&T.
Despite his reasoning, Samalopan’s friend was rejected. Years later, reflecting on an interview in the midst of queuing 90-hour workweeks, he joked, “Dude, I should have told them I’d give up basketball and work Sundays too.”
The Central Trade Unions (CTU) on Tuesday condemned the statement made by Larsen & Toubro (L&T) chairman SN Subramanian, who advocated for working hours to be 90 hours per week and for workers to “look after their wives” at home. suggested working on Sunday instead. .
While L&T later clarified that the statement reflected a broader desire to develop India, it drew widespread criticism from various groups, including women’s rights activists, for its tone and implications on work-life balance. .
The Center of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) compared Mr. Subrahmanyan’s comments to Infosys founder NR Narayana Murthy’s earlier suggestion of a 70-hour work week, calling it part of a “rogue competition” between corporate leaders to exploit workers. told
CITU general secretary Tapan Sen criticized the proposal, highlighting its negative impact on workers’ health and social life, especially as Indian workers already work longer hours than in countries like China, Europe and the US. And Virjesh Upadhyay, former leader of Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh also condemned. The statement, calling it contrary to the principles of human dignity and work-life balance. He questioned the fairness of such measures coming from individuals earning substantially more than the average worker, stressing the need for equality and humane working conditions.
