Change L&T’s name to ‘Lynch and Torment’, suggests an ad guru after Chairman’s controversial work hour proposal

Larsen & Toubro (L&T) Chairman SN Subrahmanyan’s controversial remarks advocating a 90-hour workweek have sparked widespread backlash, with ad industry veteran Piyush Pandey suggesting the company be renamed “Lynch & Torment.” Subrahmanyan’s comments, which surfaced in a viral video, have been met with criticism from business leaders, social commentators, and celebrities.

Piyush Pandey’s Stinging Criticism

Piyush Pandey, Chief Advisor at Ogilvy Advertising, was among the first to condemn Subrahmanyan’s statement. Speaking about the 90-hour workweek proposal, Pandey remarked, “The quality of work is not dependent on the number of hours. It is not about work-life balance; it’s about heart-and-mind balance. If people are in a better state of mind, they deliver better work.”

He also took aim at Subrahmanyan’s controversial remark about spending time at home, saying, “Are you mad? What kind of thinking is that? A nation is built on hardworking people, not slaves.” Pandey labeled the proposal “savage thinking” and added, “If L&T insists on such policies, they might as well rename the company ‘Lynch & Torment.'”

Business Leaders React

Sanjeev Bikhchandani, Founder of Info Edge, offered a more tempered response. Speaking on CNBC-TV18, Bikhchandani acknowledged that Subrahmanyan’s remarks might have been an attempt to motivate employees, but he stressed the unsustainability of such work expectations.

“A seven-day workweek with 12-hour shifts can be managed for a short period during crises or deadlines, but it is not a sustainable model. I don’t think Subrahmanyan meant it to be a permanent structure,” he said. Bikhchandani also reflected on his early career in advertising, highlighting that long hours are often driven by passion rather than compulsion.

Women Leaders Call Out Privilege

Devina Mehra, Founder of First Global, dismissed the idea of a 90-hour workweek as “complete bunkum,” citing studies that show humans cannot maintain productivity under such conditions. Mehra also pointed out the gendered implications of such policies, stating, “Those advocating these work hours often have the privilege of someone else managing home and childcare.”Neeti Sharma, CEO of TeamLease Digital, echoed these sentiments, emphasizing that such an approach would disproportionately burden women. “In India, the primary caregiver is still a woman. Expecting both male and female colleagues to work 90-hour weeks would unfairly impact women and hinder their participation in the workforce,” she noted.

Backlash Across Society

Subrahmanyan’s remarks, particularly his jibe about “staring at your wife,” have been criticized as tone-deaf and regressive. Actress Deepika Padukone shared her dismay on Instagram, writing, “Shocking to see people in such senior positions make such statements. #mentalhealthmatters.”

Business leaders like Harsh Goenka and Harsh Mariwala also voiced their disapproval, underscoring the need for a more empathetic approach to work culture.

_{Images are for reference only.Images and contents gathered automatic from google or 3rd party sources.All rights on the images and contents are with their legal original owners.}