Indian Companies Want Slavery, Not Quality in Work

Introduction

Hello, my name is Rohit, and I work as a freelance legal compliance consultant. Today, I want to share my thoughts on the recent statement made by the CEO of L&T regarding a 90-hour work culture.

When I first started my career in 2008, I was full of energy and enthusiasm, completely ignoring work-life balance. I dedicated everything to my work—my time, my money, and my entire focus. Fast forward to 2025, I now own a legal services company catering to several reputed clients. On the surface, this may seem like a great achievement. However, the question remains: Did I make the right choice in sacrificing my work-life balance?

At 50, I have a successful business, my children are settled, and my wife is busy with her own work and activities. But where does that leave me? I find myself sitting in an office, owning a company, but missing the warmth of a close-knit family. Is this really what I wanted?

The Price of Success

The answer is a resounding NO. While I built my company from the ground up, I lost many precious moments of my life. I sacrificed 20 years that could have been filled with memories, family time, and personal growth beyond just work.

• I lost the bond with my children.
• I lost the emotional connection with my wife.
• I lost the small joys of life that cannot be measured in financial terms.

Now, when I try to spend time with my family, they are busy with their own lives—just as I was when they needed me. This realization hits hard. I see my own brother-in-law, who made completely different choices, and I can’t help but compare our lives.

A Different Approach to Work-Life Balance

My brother-in-law started a small dairy business when he got married. Unlike me, he understood the importance of balance from the very beginning.

• He took mandatory weekly leaves—ensuring Sundays were family days.
• He prioritized quality time with his wife and later with his children.
• When he was blessed with a daughter, he was present for every milestone.
• Two years later, when he had a son, he adjusted his work-life balance even further, making time for both his business and family.

Despite starting our businesses around the same time, we have reached nearly the same level of financial success. However, there is a major difference—he has a happy, emotionally connected family, while I feel like a stranger in my own home.

This is a wake-up call for employers. A toxic work culture that demands extreme dedication at the cost of personal well-being is not sustainable.

The Global Shift Towards a Healthier Work Culture

Recently, I came across a news report on NDTV about the rise of the four-day workweek in various countries. Here are some key highlights:

• Over 200 companies in the UK have permanently adopted a four-day workweek without any loss in employee pay.
• Research suggests that a four-day workweek results in happier, more productive employees with reduced stress levels.
• Companies that have implemented this system report increased revenues due to higher productivity.
• Studies also show that a shorter workweek helps combat climate change by reducing carbon emissions from commuting.

Many countries, including Belgium, UAE, Iceland, France, Japan, Germany, the Netherlands, and Australia, have already embraced the four-day work culture.

Meanwhile, in India, we are still debating Long working hours,. Instead of moving forward, we are pushing for unrealistic and harmful expectations. Why are Indian employers treating humans like machines?

The Need for Change

India must rethink its work culture. If global trends prove that shorter workweeks increase productivity, happiness, and revenue, then why are we still glorifying overwork? Employers must:

1. Prioritize Employee Well-Being: A stressed employee cannot produce quality work.
2. Promote Work-Life Balance: Encourage employees to take breaks, spend time with family, and live fulfilling lives.
3. Measure Success by Productivity, Not Hours: Longer work hours do not equate to better results.
4. Create a Flexible Work Environment: Allow employees to have control over their schedules, ensuring efficiency and satisfaction.
5. Encourage Leaves and Vacations: Mental and emotional well-being should be as important as project deadlines.

Final Thoughts

The corporate world needs to value people over profits. Employees are not machines; they are human beings with emotions, families, and personal lives. The concept of a 90-hour workweek is regressive and harmful. Instead, we should be focusing on quality over quantity, encouraging a balanced and fulfilling work culture.

To all the employers out there: Wealth is important, but so is health and happiness. A successful company should not come at the cost of broken families and burned-out employees. Let’s build workplaces that value human life—not just output.

Will India move towards a four-day workweek? Only time will tell. Until then, let’s keep the conversation going and demand better work environments for all.

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