New Delhi: Industrialist Anand Mahindra shared his thoughts on work-life balance and the importance of quality over quantity when it comes to working hours.
Speaking at the Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue 2025, Mahindra responded to remarks made by Larsen & Toubro’s (L&T) chairman, SN Subrahmanyan, about employees working extended hours, even on Sundays.
During his interaction with Firstpost Managing editor Palki Sharma, the chairman of Mahindra Group was asked how he manages his time and maintains an active presence on social media.
Instead of focusing on how many hours he works in a week, Mahindra emphasized the importance of the quality of work. He said, “I don’t want it to be about time. I don’t want it to be about quantity. Ask me about the quality of my work. Don’t ask me how many hours I have worked.”
Mahindra’s comments came in response to Subrahmanyan’s controversial remarks, where the L&T chairman suggested that employees should be willing to work longer hours, including Sundays. Subrahmanyan also made a questionable comment, asking, “How long can one stare at your wife?” and expressed regret that he could not mandate work on Sundays. These statements drew widespread criticism, with many calling them insensitive and dismissive of work-life balance.
In a witty reply to Subrahmanyan’s comment, Mahindra said, “I often get asked how much time I have to spend on social media. I want to tell people that I am on social media not because I am lonely. My wife is wonderful; I love staring at her.” He further explained that his presence on platforms like X (formerly Twitter) is purely professional. “Social media is an amazing business tool. On one platform, I get feedback from 11 million people,” Mahindra said.
Highlighting the importance of a balanced lifestyle, Mahindra added, “One can only make better decisions when they have a holistic life. If you are not spending time at home or with friends and if you are not reading and don’t have time to reflect, how will you bring the inputs into making the right decisions?”
Subrahmanyan’s remarks about extended working hours have sparked outrage, with many arguing that such statements promote an unhealthy work culture. Critics pointed out that such expectations can negatively impact employees’ mental health and personal lives.
The backlash against Subrahmanyan’s comments comes just weeks after Infosys co-founder N R Narayana Murthy made a similar suggestion, advocating for a 70-hour workweek for young professionals.
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