Infosys Founder Champions 70-Hour Workweeks, Dismisses Work-Life Balance
Infosys co-founder Narayana Murthy has reinforced his controversial stance on extended working hours, declaring he "doesn't believe in work-life balance" during the recent CNBC Global Leadership Summit.
The Indian tech mogul defended his October 2023 call for young professionals to work 70-hour weeks, suggesting they should maintain such schedules "for the next 20 years, 50 years, whatever it is." Murthy cited this as a duty to support national development and future generations.
Drawing parallels to political leadership, Murthy pointed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's reported 100-hour workweeks as an example citizens should emulate. However, this recommendation contradicts Indian labor laws, which prohibit such extended working hours.
At the leadership summit, Murthy remained unwavering in his position, stating he would "take this view to my grave." He also expressed disappointment about the industry-wide shift from six-day to five-day workweeks in 1986, maintaining that "there is no substitute for hard work even if you're the most intelligent guy."
The tech leader practiced what he preached throughout his career, working 14-hour days from 6:20 AM to 8:30 PM, six and a half days per week until retirement. When questioned about limited family time, Murthy emphasized quality over quantity, noting that his brief evening interactions with his children were "lots of fun."
Drawing from historical examples, Murthy referenced post-World War II Japan and Germany as models of productivity through intensive work. "We owe it to the poor people to work hard and make the quality of their life a little bit better," he added.
This stance comes amid recent controversies surrounding Infosys, including allegations of delayed job placements for engineering graduates and mandatory return-to-office policies. Research has consistently shown that excessive working hours can decrease productivity and pose health risks, with Japan implementing protective measures after documented cases of death from overwork.
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