Larsen & Toubro (L&T) Chairman S.N. Subrahmanyan's remarks about employees needing to work 90 hours a week to stay competitive have sparked outrage on Reddit. In a video from an internal interaction, Subrahmanyan expressed his belief that working on Sundays would help employees achieve success, citing China's 90-hour work week as a model to follow. The comments were met with significant backlash, with many questioning the toll such work expectations take on employee well-being, work-life balance, and mental health.

The controversy grew as users compared Subrahmanyan's statement to Infosys founder Narayana Murthy's call for 70-hour work weeks. Criticism focused on the disparity between the expectations of top executives, who receive high compensation, and the struggles of lower-paid employees dealing with long hours and challenging conditions. Reddit users also pointed out the high attrition rates at L&T and the company's reputation for poor work-life balance.

The timing of Subrahmanyan's remarks coincides with a larger conversation about employee well-being, work culture, and mental health, which have gained attention following incidents like the tragic death of a young consultant at Ernst & Young in 2024. The controversy highlights the ongoing debate over the impact of extreme work hours on employees and the shifting priorities in modern workplace culture.