Narayana Murthy 70-Hour Workweek Controversy: Impact on Employee Well-being and India’s Competitive Edge

Infosys founder NR Narayana Murthy’s recent conversation with former Infosys CFO Mohandas Pai on a YouTube show has stirred a heated debate among netizens and sparked strong opposition from employees across India. The controversy emerged when Narayana Murthy suggested that today’s youth should commit to working 70 hours a week to help India compete with developed nations like China.

After Narayana Murthy sparks debate over working hours, another CEO backs his 70-hour work week suggestionhttps://t.co/nQtgbH4T6W

— WION (@WIONews) October 29, 2023

The show quickly went viral, with many highlighting the perception that IT companies in India have turned into high-pressure workplaces where employees are expected to put in long hours, yet their salaries remain stagnant. It’s worth noting that the starting salary package at Infosys has remained at Rs 3.5 lakh per annum for years, despite inflation, the pandemic, and rising living costs.

Long Work Hours Impact Well-being

Critics argue that working 70 hours a week takes a significant toll on employees, both physically and mentally, leaving them with minimal time for personal lives, family, and self-improvement. Considering that most IT companies in India follow a 5-day workweek, employees may end up spending up to 14 hours at the office each day, which, when factoring in commute times, leaves them with only 5-6 hours of sleep.

Narayana Murthy’s perspective is rooted in the belief that Indian work productivity is among the lowest globally. He contends that unless Indians enhance their productivity, reduce corruption in government bodies, and minimize bureaucratic decision-making delays, the country may struggle to compete and harness the potential of its young workforce.

Youngsters should work 70 hours per week; Debate sparks over Infosys Narayana Murthy’s remark"#latest #vanakkammalaysia #Youngsters #shouldwork #70hoursperweek #Debate #sparks #Infosys #NarayanaMurthy #remark #trendingnewsmalaysia #malaysiatamilnews #fyp #vmnews #foryoupage pic.twitter.com/HOp27AFzYc

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However, the question remains: Is working 70 hours a week the only path to success? According to Forbes’ “World’s Best Employers” report, none of the top 15 tech companies to work for in 2023 require a 70-hour workweek. Most of these companies mandate a maximum of 45 hours of work per week, with some exceptional cases involving 52 hours in high-pressure roles.

Here’s a look at the 15 Best Tech Companies of 2023 according to Forbes and their official work hour requirements:

Samsung Electronics: 45 hours a week.

Microsoft: Approximately 40 hours a week.

Alphabet (Google): 8 hours a day and 40 hours a week.

Apple: 8 hours a day and 40 hours a week, with variations depending on roles.

IBM: 8 hours a day.

Adobe: 8 hours a day and 40 hours a week.

Cisco Systems: Adheres to local labor laws and restricts the workweek to 60 hours with overtime allowed in exceptional cases.

Dell Technologies: 8 hours a day and 40 hours a week.

PayPal: 8 hours a day, but some roles may entail up to 9 hours.

Sony: 9 hours a day and 45 hours a week.

Intel: A minimum of 40 hours a week.

Siemens: 40 to 50 hours a week as per role requirements.

Amazon: A fixed minimum of 40 hours a week.

Netflix: Embraces flexible work hours without a 9-to-5 schedule.

Oracle: 8 hours or less, with a minimum requirement of 20 hours a week.

While the debate over working hours in the IT sector continues, it’s essential to consider both employee well-being and productivity when determining the most effective work schedule.

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