Entrepreneurs often emphasise the need to devote every waking moment to building their dream empires. The Infosys Chairman recently urged employees to work more than 8 hours a day. While I appreciate the sentiment, I must respectfully disagree. I strongly believe that work-life balance is a myth, a concept created by corporate culture to maximise the utilisation of employees' personal lives for business needs. The truth is, it’s just LIFE, and work is merely one essential part of it. Let me share a lesson from history to put things into perspective. Alexander the Great, one of the greatest leaders in history, left us with a profound message through his final will. Upon his death, he requested: His treasure be scattered along the funeral route. His coffin be carried by doctors, along with their medical equipment. His hands remain outside the coffin, symbolising that he left the world as empty-handed as he entered it. This teaches us that work is not a balancing act; it’s a necessity for LIFE. Every entrepreneur should remember that employees are not working to balance work and life—they’re working to build a life. Fortunately, our era values smart work and wisdom over relentless toil. Life is too short, and no amount of wealth will follow us to the grave. Let’s prioritise LIFE over just work! #WorkLifeBalance #LeadershipLessons #EmployeeWellbeing #Entrepreneurship #CorporateCulture #AvaitionIndustry #TravelIndustry #WorkCulture #ModernLeadership https://lnkd.in/gjVY5Daa
Abdul Jaleel Abdullah’s Post
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🚨 Work Culture Debate: 5-Day Workweek vs. Hard Work for Progress 🚨 Infosys co-founder Narayana Murthy recently reignited a nationwide debate about work ethics and productivity. At the CNBC Global Leadership Summit, he expressed disappointment over India's shift from a 6-day workweek to a 5-day workweek in 1986. He emphasized: 👉 Hard work and sacrifice are crucial for India's development. 👉 Nations like Germany and Japan rebuilt themselves through relentless dedication post-WWII. 👉 PM Modi's 100-hour workweeks serve as a model of commitment. 👉 There’s no substitute for hard work, even for the most talented individuals. But his statements also raise important questions: 💬 Should India rethink its workweek to boost progress? 💬 Can longer hours truly drive development in today’s world of automation and innovation? 💬 How can we balance hard work with well-being in a fast-evolving work culture? Let’s hear your thoughts! Are you for or against extending work hours for greater national progress? Share your views in the comments. 👇 #WorkCulture #Leadership #Productivity #India #Debate #inforsys #narayanmurthy #india #makeinindia https://lnkd.in/gre4VStH
"Narayana Murthy Expresses Disappointment Over India's Move to 5-Day Workweek"
worldwisdomwave.blogspot.com
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I don’t find Narayana Murthy toxic. Let me tell you why. When Narayana Murthy says we need a generation willing to work 70–72 hours a week, he isn’t glorifying burnout, he’s speaking from experience. Let’s take a step back and understand his context. When Murthy started, there weren’t endless options to choose from. His focus was clear: provide for his family and build something meaningful. He built Infosys and a legacy by making work his priority. Now, think about our fathers’ generation. Did they have the privilege of choosing jobs they loved? Could they pause their careers for mental health or personal goals? No. They took what they got, worked relentlessly, and ensured we had the comfort they never did. But here’s the thing: even today, not everyone enjoys the luxury of balance. If you ask a Gen Z who’s responsible for putting food on the table, their reality often mirrors Murthy’s generation. The criticism Murthy is facing feels misplaced. He isn’t dismissing work-life balance or mental health. He’s asking us to recognize the value of sacrifice when building something extraordinary. Nations like Japan and South Korea didn’t rise by working 9–5. They embraced discipline and hard work during their growth phases, and so did Murthy. This isn’t about toxic hustle culture. It’s about questioning if we’ve become too comfortable criticizing effort. Growth, whether personal or national, demands focus, grit, and yes, sometimes sacrifice. The real question isn’t whether Murthy is right or wrong. It’s whether we’re willing to step up when it matters most, or just stay comfortable and watch the world outpace us. #NaryanaMurthy #GenZ #jobs #Businesses #Work #Life #Culture #controversy
Narayana Murthy speaks out on controversy over his '70-hour week' remark
indiatoday.in
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Infosys co-founder Narayana Murthy advocates for 70-hour workweeks, believing in hard work and rejecting work-life balance. He cites post-WW2 Japan and Germany as examples of hard work leading to productivity, and defends his own 14-hour workdays. However, studies show excessive hours can harm productivity, and Murthy’s company has faced criticism for unpaid training and forced office returns.
Infosys founder defends call for 70-hour workweeks, says he "doesn't believe in a work/life balance"
techspot.com
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Recently, the debate on work hours among top CEOs has been interesting: • Infosys CEO suggests a 70-hour workweek. • L&T CEO takes it further, proposing a 90-hour workweek. • M&M CEO Anand Mahindra offers a refreshing perspective: “It’s not about the hours, but the quality of work that matters. But what stood out most was Anand Mahindra’s witty remark about multitasking—“staring at my wife and working simultaneously.” His clever play on words reminds us that balance and humor can go hand in hand with productivity. In a world where work-life balance is a hot topic, Mahindra’s lighthearted yet profound approach is a breath of fresh air. “It’s not just about the hours you put in, but how effectively and joyfully you use them.” Follow for more Mohit Khandelwal 🌱 #WorkLifeBalance #Leadership #QualityOverQuantity #AnandMahindra #WitAndWisdom #Productivity
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"Chill the Heck Out: 70-Hour Work Week Debate" Infosys co-founder N.R. Narayana Murthy is back in the headlines, doubling down on his belief that young Indians should work 70-hour weeks. His unapologetic statement—"I am sorry, I have not changed my view. I will take this with me to my grave."—has set social media ablaze yet again. Here’s what I think: It’s just an opinion. Sure, it’s sparked conversations, but people will ultimately work as much as they want, need, or are forced to—based on their goals and circumstances. Now, I empathize with those stuck working long hours without a choice. But I also acknowledge something else: not everyone has the luxury of a balanced work life. Some people are working hard because they want to escape their current situation, because they have to. For them, this isn’t about hustle culture or controversy—it’s about survival and ambition. And that deserves respect. For the rest of us, let’s chill the heck out. If you’re a content creator, milk the controversy positively—discuss productivity, share tips on balance, or even reflect on what hard work means to you. Let’s turn the noise into something constructive. At the end of the day, success doesn’t have one formula. Let’s keep the discussion meaningful and focus on how we can grow, wherever we are on our journey. What’s your take on this? Let’s talk.
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Criticism should not be directed at Sir N. R. Narayana Murthy; instead, it would be more constructive to seek a complete understanding of the entire context:- Sir N. R. Narayana Murthy murthy co-founder of Infosys, is widely acknowledged as a visionary who reshaped India’s IT landscape. Recently, his remarks about younger professionals embracing a "70-hour work week" have stirred debates around work culture. However, it’s vital to view his message through the lens of dedication and nation-building. The Power of Commitment in Building a Legacy: Murthy’s message is not just about working longer hours; it's about the value of commitment. He and his founding team built Infosys through years of hard work, focus, and sacrifice. Murthy reminds us that great achievements require great effort. In today's competitive global landscape, India’s workforce must go the extra mile—not just for personal success, but for the country’s collective progress. The hard work we put in today helps build a stronger foundation for future generations. Context: Innovation Demands Dedication Murthy’s call for longer work hours reflects the demands of an evolving, competitive world. Countries like China and South Korea have excelled by embracing a culture of hard work and discipline. Murthy isn’t advocating overwork for its own sake, but highlighting that success in industries like technology requires dedication and sometimes pushing beyond comfort zones. Collective Responsibility and Leadership While emphasizing hard work, Murthy has always championed employee welfare and ethical leadership. It's essential for organizations to balance this effort with employee well-being, recognizing the importance of a thriving workforce. Empowered employees are the foundation of lasting legacies. A Call for Long-Term Vision Murthy’s message isn’t just for today—it’s for the long-term development of India’s workforce. Successful nations and companies are built by those who invest extraordinary effort in their formative years. Empires are not built in a day. His words are a reminder that today’s hard work will drive tomorrow’s progress. While work-life balance remains important, it’s crucial to recognize that in periods of growth, extra effort can make a profound difference. It’s about aligning our efforts with a larger purpose, contributing to both organizational and national progress. A Message to Infosys and Beyond Murthy’s words challenge Infosys employees and young professionals: How can you help build something lasting? How can your efforts today ensure a stronger, more innovative India for the future? His legacy is rooted in building not just a company, but a better future for India. Let’s rise to the challenge, working hard not only for our success but for the collective prosperity of the nation. #NarayanaMurthy #WorkCulture #Leadership #Dedication #NationBuilding #Infosys #Innovation #FutureIndia #HardWorkPaysOff
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70-𝗛𝗢𝗨𝗥 𝗪𝗢𝗥𝗞 𝗪𝗘𝗘𝗞? 𝗡𝗔𝗥𝗔𝗬𝗔𝗡𝗔 𝗠𝗨𝗥𝗧𝗛𝗬’𝗦 𝗢𝗨𝗧𝗗𝗔𝗧𝗘𝗗 𝗗𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗠 𝗩𝗦. 𝗠𝗢𝗗𝗘𝗥𝗡 𝗪𝗢𝗥𝗞-𝗟𝗜𝗙𝗘 𝗕𝗔𝗟𝗔𝗡𝗖𝗘 Infosys founder Narayana Murthy suggests a 70-hour work week as the golden ticket to success. While I respect his dedication, let's get real – not everyone wants to live at their desk. Work-life balance isn't just a buzzword; it's essential for mental and physical well-being. Mr. Murthy, if working 70 hours a week makes you happy, more power to you! But why impose your preferences on everyone else? This is a democracy, not a dictatorship. 𝗔𝗻𝗱 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲'𝘀 𝗮 𝗯𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗾𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: 𝗔𝗿𝗲 𝗜𝗻𝗳𝗼𝘀𝘆𝘀 𝗲𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗼𝘆𝗲𝗲𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗿 70 𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀 𝗼𝗿 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 35? 𝗙𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗵𝗲𝗿𝘀' 𝘀𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝗻 2014 𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗲 ₹25𝗞, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗴𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁? 𝗜𝗻 2024, 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆'𝗿𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗹𝗹 ₹30𝗞. 𝗜𝗻𝗳𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗺𝘂𝗰𝗵? 𝗟𝗲𝘁'𝘀 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮 𝗯𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗮𝗰𝗵 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝗺𝗲𝗲𝘁𝘀 𝗳𝗮𝗶𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝘄𝗲𝗹𝗹-𝗯𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗴. 𝗔𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝗹𝗹, 𝗮 𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗽𝘆 𝗲𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗼𝘆𝗲𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗮 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗲𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗼𝘆𝗲𝗲. 𝗟𝗲𝘁'𝘀 𝗲𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗼𝘅𝗶𝗰 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝗰𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲. #WorkLifeBalance #FairPay #EmployeeWellbeing #Infosys #NarayanaMurthy #Culture #Toxic #Employee #HR #India #Salary #Jobs
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Work-Life Balance Vs Work-Wife Balance! Yet another CEO has set the internet on inferno. This time, it is the CEO of L&T, stepping up the accelerator on number of working hours from 70 (suggested earlier by the Co-founder of Infosys), to a mind blowing 90 hours per week. And how you can achieve it? Simply by stop staring at your wife! https://lnkd.in/g6DGQfEr The fabled “Work-Life Balance” tag line takes a back seat. Now, HR Department need to get enough creative in exploring various ways of achieving a Work-Wife Balance. Please say a BIG NO to this kind of toxic work culture. #hrconsulting #hrsupport #HRLeadership #hrconsultant #workingfromhome #workinghours #larsenandtoubro #Infosys #cartoon #cartoonart #charteredaccountant #icai #accounting #accountability #accountant #finance #FinancialFreedom #financialplanning #financialliteracy #ceo #CFO
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Narayana Murthy, co-founder of Infosys, has often shared his perspective on work culture, including the importance of work-life balance. While he has not explicitly recommended 14-hour workdays, he has spoken critically about excessive work hours in general. Some potential side Effects of excessive working hours are 1) Prolonged work hours, especially 14-hour days, can lead to severe health problems like chronic fatigue, sleep disorders, increased stress, and higher risk of heart disease. The stress associated with long work hours can also affect mental health, leading to burnout, depression, and anxiety. 2) Murthy has emphasized that long workdays might lead to increased productivity. In fact, fatigue and lack of focus can reduce efficiency, leading to errors, poor decision-making, and ultimately, diminishing the quality of work. 3) A 14-hour workday leaves little time for personal activities, family, or socializing. This imbalance can lead to strained relationships, a sense of isolation, and overall dissatisfaction with life outside of work. 4) Constantly working long hours can result in employees feeling undervalued or overburdened, which can lower morale. This may also lead to high employee turnover rates, which disrupt organizational culture and productivity. 5) Innovation thrives in environments where employees have time to think, reflect, and recharge. Long hours can stifle creativity, as workers may become too tired to think outside the box or engage in deep problem-solving. 6) Murthy has advocated for sustainable work practices that promote long-term career satisfaction and health. A culture of excessive hours may result in high turnover, absenteeism, and lower overall job satisfaction, which could be detrimental to long-term success. Not sure his comments were meant to please PM Modi or suggesting the youth to be prepared for excessive working hours. I would support his claim of working restless for a start up founder or an. Entrepreneur but as an employee working for 70 hrs a week or 14 hrs a day would be a serious concern.
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Narayana Murthy's Controversial Stance: No to Work-Life Balance? Narayana Murthy, co-founder of Infosys, sparked debate with his recent statement dismissing the concept of work-life balance. Murthy expressed disappointment over Infosys adopting a five-day workweek. The Argument Against Work-Life Balance 1. Professionalism Over Personal Life - Employees should prioritize professional commitments. - Personal life should adjust to professional demands. 2. Performance-Driven Culture - Focus on delivery and quality. - Work-life balance hinders productivity. 3. Leadership Responsibilities - Leaders must set examples. - Sacrifices are necessary for success. Counterarguments 1. Burnout and Exhaustion - Long hours harm physical and mental well-being. 2. Talent Retention - Work-life balance attracts and retains top talent. 3. Innovation and Creativity - Balanced employees drive innovation. Impact on Infosys 1. Employee Morale - Potential decline in job satisfaction. 2. Industry Competition - Rivals may attract talent with better work-life balance. Murthy's stance has ignited debate. While emphasizing professionalism, it's crucial to consider employee well-being and modern work culture. #WorkLifeBalance #NarayanaMurthy #Infosys #Productivity #Wellness #Leadership #India #indiajobs
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Senior Internal Auditor | Financial Risk Management | UAE Taxation
2moIt is refreshing to see someone challenge the outdated notion that relentless work is the key to success....