L&T Chairman breaks silence on ‘90 hours work week’ remark, says, ‘My wife also felt…’

Larsen & Toubro Chairman and Managing Director S. N. Subrahmanyan has addressed the controversy surrounding his remark on employees working for 90 hours a week or even on Sundays. He clarified that it was made in a casual context while discussing project delays. 

He added that the interaction was recorded without permission, which went against company rules, and admitted that even his wife felt upset over the way the comment was perceived.

L&T Chairman On ‘90 Hours workweek’

The L&T chief admitted that the controversy affected him. He told Money Control, “There were serious issues on my mind. Five or six clients, including some very high-profile ones, personally spoke to me, called me, sent emails about our progress. I was worried because we were struggling to mobilize staff and labour, and work was not happening the way it should. Despite my involvement, projects were not moving. It was not good to be called out at that level. It doesn’t reflect well on me or the organization.’’

‘My wife also felt bad,’ L&T Chairman

“When one gentleman asked me the question, I spoke casually, but it (recording the conversation) went against the rules as there was a statutory warning of no recording. On hindsight I could have answered differently. Normally I speak in an easy manner, that’s my style. But I acknowledge I could have spoken differently. My wife also felt bad because her name got involved.”

He added in conversation with Money Control, “It has not been easy. It has preyed on my mind. But what happened, happened. I cannot withdraw it now. If a similar question comes in a similar mood, maybe I’ll answer differently. There was a bad background then — performance was poor. And performance is our oxygen. When it goes wrong, things come out in that manner. Maybe it could have come out differently.”

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