Long Working Hours

Context

Recently L&T Chairperson SN Subrahmanyan suggested that employees should work 90 hours a week.

What are the Arguments in Favour of Long Working Hours?

• Work as Worship: The idea that work is worship (Karmayoga) has deep roots in Indian culture, reflected in sayings like “Karm Hi Puja Hai” and ideals from texts like the Bhagavad Gita.
  • People should enjoy their work and immerse themselves in it, finding joy in achieving their goals rather than treating work as a burden.
• Economic Necessity: India, with its large population of poor, requires diligent work to transform into a global manufacturing hub. Hard work is essential for raising living standards and eradicating poverty.
  • Reduced working hours may lead to economic losses and missed opportunities for growth, particularly in a developing nation like India.
• Role Models of Tireless Work: Examples like Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who works tirelessly without taking vacations, are cited as ideals to inspire people to focus on productivity and nation-building.
  • Historical figures like Swami Vivekananda emphasized relentless effort to achieve goals, reinforcing the ethos of hard work over leisure.
• Family-like Work Culture: Organizations like Larsen & Toubro (L&T) are highlighted for fostering a family-like work atmosphere, where employees willingly dedicate themselves to challenging tasks, achieving extraordinary outcomes.
• Avoidance of Vacation Culture: The “vacation craze” is criticized as a colonial hangover and a blind imitation of Western cultures.
  • India’s work culture, rooted in traditional values, does not prioritize frequent breaks but instead emphasizes fulfilling duties and responsibilities.
• Reality of the Workforce: Many in the unorganized sector, like vegetable vendors, already work long hours to make ends meet. Suggesting reduced working hours could undermine their dignity and portray their efforts as futile.
  • A hard-working ethos is seen as necessary until the economy reaches a level where poverty is eliminated, allowing for adjustments in work-life balance.

What are the Arguments Against Long Working Hours?

• Gender Inequity and Domestic Work Disparity: Indian women perform 10 times more unpaid domestic chores than men, creating a stark gender gap in work distribution.
  • Long working hours for men exacerbate this inequality, as they contribute little to household responsibilities, leaving women burdened with both unpaid domestic work and, in many cases, paid jobs.
  • The “mommy track” phenomenon forces one parent, typically the woman, to compromise career progression to manage domestic duties, reinforcing the gender wage gap.
• Diminished Productivity and Worker Burnout: Excessive work hours don’t necessarily lead to higher productivity.
  • Many informal sector workers log long hours under precarious conditions without substantial gains in output or benefits.
  • Rest and recuperation are essential for optimal performance, much like recharging gadgets; overworking leads to diminishing returns on effort and efficiency.
• Exploitation in Corporate Structures: Disparities in compensation highlight the exploitation of workers putting in long hours.
  • g., while managerial salaries rose significantly (20.38%), worker salaries saw only marginal growth (1.74%).
  • This inequity in rewards breeds dissatisfaction and undermines the morale of workers.
• Negative Impact on Work-Life Balance: Long hours deprive employees of personal and family time, undermining relationships and quality of life.
  • Without work-life balance, employees are at risk of burnout, mental health issues, and strained familial ties.
• Reinforcement of Social Inequality: “Greedy” jobs with long hours disproportionately benefit individuals who can afford to sacrifice personal time, often men.
  • This dynamic stunts women’s career progression and widens existing gender disparities in professional success and pay.
• Cultural and Economic Misalignment: Glorifying long hours perpetuates a toxic work culture that prioritizes exhaustion over sustainability.
  • A balanced approach to work fosters a thriving workforce that can sustain productivity without compromising health, well-being, or equity.

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