The work-life balance debate has gained fresh momentum after prominent business leaders voiced differing opinions on social media. Adar Poonawalla, CEO of the Serum Institute of India, backed Mahindra Group Chairman Anand Mahindra’s call for prioritising quality over quantity in work hours.
In a light-hearted post on X, Poonawalla said, “Yes [Anand Mahindra], even my wife [Natasha Poonawalla] thinks I am wonderful, she loves staring at me on Sundays. Quality of work over quantity always. Work-life balance.” This came after Mahindra responded to comments by L&T Chairman SN Subrahmanyan, who advocated for 90-hour workweeks, including Sundays.
Subrahmanyan faced criticism for questioning the purpose of staying at home and commenting, “How long can you stare at your wife? How long can the wives stare at their husbands? Get to the office and start working.”
The remarks were widely criticised. RPG Group Chairman Harsh Goenka called the suggestion of 90-hour workweeks a “recipe for burnout, not success,” quipping that Sundays might as well be renamed “Sun-duty.”
Former badminton star Jwala Gutta slammed the comments as “misogynistic,” questioning why spending time with a spouse should be seen negatively. Bollywood actor Deepika Padukone also expressed shock, emphasising the importance of balanced perspectives from leaders.
While Infosys founder Narayana Murthy has supported long work weeks in the past, Poonawalla and Mahindra’s stance has highlighted a growing call for smarter work practices that ensure well-being.
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