90-hour work debate: Rajiv Bajaj asks bosses to 'walk the talk' before preaching juniors

In the ongoing debate over 90 hour work week, Rajiv Bajaj, Managing Director of Bajaj Auto, has advised corporate leaders to walk the talk about grueling work schedules. Responding to recent comments by Larsen & Toubro Chairman S N Subrahmanyan, who suggested a 90-hour work week and working on Sundays, Bajaj asked the top brass to first set an example themselves.

“Let the 90 hours start from the top,” Bajaj remarked during an interview to CNBC TV18. “If it proves to be fruitful or productive over a period of two, three, or four years, then let us talk about implementing it down the line.”

The bottleneck is always at the top of the bottle: Bajaj

In a sharp critique of corporate hierarchies, Bajaj likened inefficiencies in organisations to a bottle, where the bottleneck invariably forms at the top. “The bottleneck is always at the top of the bottle,” he said. He urged leaders to introspect and address inefficiencies in their own strategies and workflows before pushing aggressive policies onto their teams.


Bajaj highlighted the need for a cultural shift in corporate India, suggesting that leadership must reflect on its role in improving productivity. “It’s a big problem when all the big talk happens at the top, but the implementation starts from the bottom,” he added, echoing concerns of unfair expectations placed on the workforce.

He further noted that corporate leaders often have resources—such as house help and drivers—that are inaccessible to junior employees. This disparity, according to Bajaj, further compounds the unfairness of demanding longer work hours from those at the lower rungs of the corporate ladder.

Number of hours don't matter; quality of work matters

Bajaj, however, took a measured and pragmatic approach. While he acknowledged the importance of hard work in staying competitive, he emphasised quality over quantity. “What is the quality, efficiency, and effectiveness of the hours being put in? That is more critical than the sheer number of hours,” he said, urging companies to focus on qualitative outcomes rather than rigid time metrics.

A shift towards flexibility

Bajaj advocated for moving away from rigid work structures and embracing more flexible, outcome-oriented policies. He shared his own experience of working from home since 2018, long before the pandemic made it commonplace. “Work is not a geography. If you have a good strategy, focus, and team, there’s no need to be tied to an office desk,” he explained, urging companies to prioritize employee well-being.

He also addressed the cultural stigma in workplaces, where employees feel compelled to stay at their desks during office hours, even if wellness facilities are available. “Until companies change this culture, the debate on number of hours is secondary,” he observed.

A kinder, gentler corporate world

Calling for a more empathetic approach, Bajaj said, “What we need more than anything at this time, as a world, as a nation, and as companies, is a kinder and gentler world.” He urged businesses to focus on fostering speed, synergy, and simplicity while building strategies that prioritize employee well-being.

A simmering debate on 90-hour work week

After Infosys co-founder NR Narayana Murthy earlier advocating a 70-hour work week, the debate on extended workweeks reignited when L&T Chairman comment further inflamed the discussion, drawing sharp criticism on social media from employees and labor advocates alike.

"How long can you stare at your wife," he was heard saying in a purported video address to employees where he urged them to spend less time at home and more in the office.

To back his stand, Subrahmanyan cited an anecdote, referring to a conversation with a Chinese professional. “Chinese people work 90 hours a week, while Americans work only 50 hours a week. If you have got to be on top of the world, you have to work 90 hours a week,” he said in the undated video.