Deepika Padukone Calls Out L&T Chairman For Wanting Employees To Work Everyday: ‘Shocking To See…’
Bollywood star Deepika Padukone publicly criticized Larsen & Toubro (L&T) Chairman SN Subrahmanyan for his comments advocating for employees to work every day, including Sundays. Padukone shared her reaction on social media, highlighting the insensitivity of such a demand from someone in a leadership role.
During a recent employee interaction, Subrahmanyan expressed his desire for a 90-hour workweek, stating, “I regret I am not able to make you work on Sundays. If I can make you work on Sundays, I will be more happy, because I work on Sundays. What do you do sitting at home? How long can you stare at your wife? How long can the wives stare at their husbands? Come on, get to the office and start working.” This statement led to widespread backlash, with Padukone being one of the first celebrities to voice her objection.
On her Instagram Stories, Padukone reacted to Subrahmanyan’s statement by sharing a journalist’s post and writing, “Shocking to see people in such senior positions make such statements.” She further emphasized the issue by adding the hashtag ‘Mental Health Matters,’ drawing attention to the potential negative impact of such intensive work schedules on employees’ mental well-being.
Padukone, known for her mental health advocacy through The Live Love Laugh Foundation, once again brought attention to the importance of work-life balance. Her response has sparked a broader conversation about the expectations placed on employees, especially in high-stress corporate environments.
Padukone’s stand has resonated with many, leading to an outpouring of support from the public who are advocating for healthier work practices. This incident highlights the ongoing debate over work culture in India, where the traditional long hours are increasingly questioned in favor of productivity, mental health, and employee satisfaction.
Previously, Infosys’ Narayan Murthy was criticized for advocating for a 70-hour work week when he said, “India’s work productivity is one of the lowest in the world. Unless we improve our work productivity… we will not be able to compete with those countries that have made tremendous progress. So, therefore, my request is that our youngsters must say, ‘This is my country. I’d like to work 70 hours a week.’”
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