Larsen & Toubro’s chairman SN Subrahmanyan’s employee interaction has created a stir with his remarks about workplace culture, including advocating for a 90-hour work week and asking employees to work on Sundays. Actor Deepika Padukone has strongly raised her voice and criticised the chairman and even showed her disapproval on L&T’s clarification .
Deepika, on her Instagram story, posted a report by journalist Faye D’Souza and wrote, “Shocking to see people in such senior positions make such statements. #MentalHealthMatters.”
What Did SN Subrahmanyan Say?
During an interaction about L&T’s six-day workweek policy, have reignited discussions about the importance of work-life balance. In a video circulating on Reddit now, “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.”
If this wasn’t enough to “ruffle someone’s feathers”, Subrahmanyan responded to a questioned employee’s use of downtime at home. “What do you do sitting at home? How long can you look at your wife? Come on, get to the office and start working,” he said, drawing sharp criticism.
Larsen & Toubro Responds
A Larsen & Toubro spokesperson said, “At L&T, nation-building is at the core of our mandate. For over eight decades, we have been shaping India’s infrastructure, industries, and technological capabilities.
“We believe this is India’s decade, a time demanding collective dedication and effort to drive progress and realize our shared vision of becoming a developed nation. The Chairman’s remarks reflect this larger ambition, emphasizing that extraordinary outcomes require extraordinary effort.
“At L&T, we remain committed to fostering a culture where passion, purpose, and performance drive us forward.
The response from L&T did not impress Deepika, an advocate for mental health awareness in India. After opening up about her own battle with depression, she founded the Live Love Laugh Foundation in 2015 to destigmatize mental health issues and provide support.
The actor shared a story on her Instagram again, saying, ” And they just made it worse”…
