Work-Life Balance: Capgemini CEO To Narayana Murthy — Here's What Top India Inc Leaders Have Said So Far

French multinational Capgemini's India unit CEO Ashwin Yardi is the latest to join the work-hour debate, backing a 47.5-hour work week. Speaking at the Nasscom Technology and Leadership Forum in Mumbai on Tuesday, Yardi expressed his support for the 47.5-hour work week but opposed sending emails to employees over the weekend.

When asked about his views on ideal work hours, Yardi said: "Forty-seven and a half hours. We have about nine hours a day and five days a week."

The CEO's comments come amid an ongoing debate in India over work-life balance. Several top executives, including Infosys' Narayana Murthy and L&T Chairman S. N. Subrahmanyan, have faced scrutiny for supporting 70-90 hour work weeks. Despite the severe backlash, Murthy, 78, has remained adamant that longer work hours are necessary to accelerate the development of India.

In January, Subrahmanyan's comment went viral on social media after he suggested that employees should give up Sundays and work longer hours.

"How long can you stare at your wife," he said at an internal company meeting held after New Year. Following the backlash, L&T defended the Chairman's 90-hour workweek remark, stating that it was required for "achieving extraordinary outcomes for the nation."

Following the L&T chief's controversy, TCS CEO K. Krithivasan urged people not to misinterpret the comments of industry veterans. However, he also stressed finding personal balance in work. "There are weeks I work 60 hours, there are weeks I work only 40 hours. Over time, you find your own balance and become happy," he said last month.

Many people, including actress Deepika Padukone, criticised Subrahmanyan while stressing the importance of maintaining a healthy work-life balance and mental health. After L&T issued a clarification on the controversial comments, Padukone said on her Instagram: "And they just made it worse."

The issue picked up a greater momentum last year, following the tragic death of a 26-year-old consultant working with EY. Anna Sebastian Perayil, who hailed from Kerala, reportedly died in July due to overwhelming work pressure, according to her mother's claims. Following the incident, many people shared their experiences of toxic work environments.

Several people on social media have criticised Murthy and Subramanyan for their comments, arguing that India's development won't be driven by longer work hours in IT jobs that are largely outsourcing firms.

Upset with poor regulation of labour laws in India, social media users also blamed the government for the condition of employees.