Infosys founder Narayana Murthy caused a stir on social media after she suggested that Indian youth should work 70 hours a week to increase the country’s overall labor productivity. His comments sparked a national debate and drew both harsh criticism and voices of approval. While some prominent business leaders supported Muthy’s workweek schedule, others online condemned the billionaire, calling his proposed work schedule inhumane. Now, actor and businessman Suniel Shetty has also shared his two cents on the issue.
In a LinkedIn post, Mr Shetty said the way he sees things when someone like Mr Murthy says something, people should listen carefully, analyze it for themselves and make the most of it. “Even though this is a controversial issue, it’s important to pause and think about what he really meant. For me, it’s really not about the number of hours. It’s not about 70 or 100 hour weeks. The way I read his thoughts are simple: it’s about going outside your comfort zone,” he wrote.
Further, Mr. Shetty cited examples of Abdul Kalam, Ratan Tata, Amitabh Bachchan and Virat Kohli as individuals who excelled in their respective fields. “Do we really think that any of these individuals got where they got in life by playing within their comfort zone? Do we really think that any of these individuals spent the early years of their careers worrying about whether they found the right balance between work and work?” & life?” He wrote.
The actor supported Mr. Murthy’s 70-hour workweek schedule, saying, “Why I see Mr. Murthy’s statement for what it was really trying to convey is because I believe that young adults need to spend their early years pushing their limits.” He also emphasized that sharpening skills, acquiring new skills, coping with pressure, learning about other roles, working in a collaborative environment and generally making the most of opportunities should be top priorities for all young adults.
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Mr. Shetty concluded by saying that while it is important to have time for family, health, hobbies, friends and other things, it is also true that the world is rapidly evolving. “Technology and AI are changing the world more than we can imagine. And we have to keep getting better. My dear future leaders – thrive for excellence, put in the hard work and cultivate your skills. Find mentors, build networks and invest in soft skills. skills. The rest will fall into place,” he said.
Narayana Murthy specifically commented on work culture while speaking to former Infosys CEO Mohandas Pai in the first episode of 3one4 Capital’s podcast ‘The Record’. He drew parallels with Japan and Germany, countries that implemented extended working hours. He also spoke on other topics such as nation building, technology, his company Infosys and others.