The recent remarks by the Chairman of a large corporate group, Larsen & Toubro, in India suggesting that employees should work 90 hours a week have been ridiculed by trade unions, associations of employees, and several others. Earlier, a similar suggestion for long working hours every day was made by the founder director of Infosys, which was also heavily criticised by a cross-section of people.
Critics termed such suggestions as impracticable, ridiculous, inhuman, and totally outrageous. However, a section of people has not rejected such suggestions outright and has pointed out that the spirit behind such suggestions must be understood and appreciated, even if the critics feel that the suggestions are unacceptable to them. Certainly, much more serious thought and consideration should be given to the suggestions made by two very important corporate leaders with several years of proven track record of excellent standards and who are widely perceived to be persons with a high level of commitment to work culture and the progress of the country.
The fact is that working long hours every day is not unusual and need not cause surprise.
It is very well known that in India today, housewives work more than twelve hours a day in cooking, looking after children and family members, and taking care of household requirements. While they may not be working for twelve hours at a single stretch every day, they certainly do so in total.
Even working women in India are known to not only work in offices or factories but, after returning home, most of them continue to work to take care of children, family members, and attend to other household duties.
Self-employed persons, particularly in tiny scales such as shopkeepers, hawkers, and those having tiny workshops, are known to work long hours every day, possibly around 12 hours or even more on some days. Of course, agricultural workers are also known to work for long hours physically toiling in the field. There are other persons working in areas such as construction activities and security functions, while policemen also work long hours. Military personnel posted in remote areas cannot complain about working long hours and do not meet family members for several months.
With working from home becoming an acceptable form of work culture in India today, working ninety hours a week may not be as arduous as it is made to appear.
What is important to note here is that when the job carried out by the person and the personal taste of the person become the same and synonymous, then the individual really starts enjoying the work, and long working hours will not be a pain but a pleasure for such persons.
When 90 hours’ work a week is suggested, it certainly does not mean that the person would not avail themselves of holidays and work a 90-hour week all through the year. Certainly, this suggestion should not be misinterpreted with the view that humans are sought to be converted into human machines. This is not the concept at all.
Finally, the persons who have made the suggestion have not asked for any legislation from the government to implement their suggestion. All they have done is to appeal to everyone to introspect over the suggestion, which will make them realise the significance and importance of a sustained work culture that would not only improve the quality of life but also aid in promoting the economic growth of the country.
Those who consider such suggestions outrageous are those who work in the organised sector, keeping an eye on the clock. If such persons are prompted to think about putting forth sustained and hard work without looking at the clock, then the objective of making this suggestion is fulfilled.
