New Delhi:

After Ola CEO Bhavish Aggarwal backed Infosys founder Narayana Murthy’s 70-hour work-week advice, a top neurologist today warned that it could increase the risk of several serious diseases and even premature death.

Narayan Murthy had, in 2023, said that if India wants to compete with developed economies that have made remarkable progress in recent decades, youngsters should work for 70 hours a week.

In a recent podcast, Bhavish reignited the debate on the 70-hour work week, saying that he is “fully in sync” with his advice.

“Working long hours is associated with increased risk of multiple serious diseases and even premature death,” said Sudhir Kumar, from Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals, Hyderabad, in a post on social media platform X.com.

Citing several scientific studies the doctor said that “working 55 or more hours per week is associated with a 35 per cent higher risk of a stroke and a 17 per cent higher risk of dying from ischemic heart disease, compared to working 35-40 hours a week”.

Further, working for more than 55 hours a week kills more than 8,00,000 people every year, he said.

Long working hours also raise the risk of being overweight, prediabetes, and Type 2 diabetes – a precursor to many diseases and early death.

“People working 69 or more hours a week are more likely to have moderate to severe depressive symptoms than those working 40 hours a week,” he said.

“CEOs are inclined to recommend long working hours for their employees to improve their company’s profits and their own net worth,” the neurologist said.

He added that in the case “where employees fall sick, they can be easily substituted”.

“It is in your best interest to choose an organisation that cares for employees and recommends reasonable working hours- to ensure a better work-life balance,” he said.
 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Infosys founder Narayana Murthy recently suggested that India’s youth must work for 70 hours every week to boost the country’s overall work productivity and economy. This remark by the businessman created a stir online with a few people including JSW Chairman Sajjan Jindal supporting the idea while others also questioned the long-term health implications of having a work schedule consisting of unreasonable and extremely long working hours. Now, Edelweiss CEO and Managing Director Radhika Gupta weighed in on the matter and said that although Indian women have been working much more than 70 hours per week for decades, however, nobody has paid attention to that.

Taking to X, formerly Twitter, Ms Gupta said, “Between offices and homes, many Indian women have been working many more than seventy hour weeks to build India (through our work) and the next generation of Indians (our children). For years and decades. With a smile, and without a demand for overtime. Funnily, no one has debated about us on Twitter.”

Between offices and homes, many Indian women have been working many more than seventy hour weeks to build India (through our work) and the next generation of Indians (our children). For years and decades. With a smile, and without a demand for overtime.

Funnily, no one has…

— Radhika Gupta (@iRadhikaGupta) October 29, 2023

Since being shared, her post has amassed over 74,000 views. Many users reacted to her post. 

“Indian women’s tireless dedication deserves recognition,” said a user.

A second person added, “Very true. But imagine you work 70 hrs a week with all these other in house work for women. Women don’t get weekends off from house work,so there is no downtime or self care for them.”

“Even without office, women in India have been working over 72 hours a week to feed the family. In our home, preparation for the lunch will start before the last member finished the breakfast and so on. Mother was the first person to get up in the morning and last one to go to bed,” said a person.

“Well pointed,” said another person.

Another added, “Actually my husband also did a lot to bring up our son, I wasn’t the only one at home doing extra hours. Also work life in Mumbai tends to be long hours; We all have to travel long hours to work and back.”

Also Read: Edelweiss CEO Radhika Gupta Calls Mumbai Commute “Draining”, Urges For Better Infrastructure

“Until the spectre of patriarchy is obliterated, nothing will change. Even in the west, Indian women with full time jobs, are slaving at home, while the men party. I have friends like that. Until girls are treated as equal to boys from birth, nothing will change, ever,” commented a person.

Mr Murty commented about the work culture while speaking to former Infosys CEO Mohandas Pai on the first episode of 3one4 Capital’s podcast ‘The Record’. Mr Narayana Murthy drew parallels to Japan and Germany, countries that implemented the extended working hours. He also talked about other topics like nation-building, technology, his company Infosys and others.