Namita Thapar criticizes 70-hour work weeks

Namita Thapar, a judge on Shark Tank and Executive Director at Emcure Pharmaceuticals, recently shared her views on the trend of working 70-hour weeks. During a podcast with Humans of Bombay, she strongly advised against this practice. Thapar believes that individuals who commit to such demanding work schedules should reconsider their personal life choices, especially regarding marriage and family. She emphasized the importance of work-life balance. Thapar pointed out that if someone works 70 hours weekly, plus additional hours, they will struggle to find time for their family, including partners and children. She stated, “What time are you going to give your little baby or even a spouse who chose to be a homemaker to take care of the baby?” She warned that such intense workloads lead to mental health issues for families. Thapar acknowledged that higher-level positions often require more hours, but she argued that companies should establish reasonable working hours for everyone, especially for those in lower-ranking positions. She believes that constant 70-hour workweeks are not sustainable. The debate on long work hours has gained attention recently. Business leader Narayana Murthy suggested that young employees should work longer hours to stay competitive. He sparked controversy by suggesting a 70-hour workweek. Others, like L&T Chairman SN Subrahmanyan, even proposed working 90 hours weekly. Sudha Murthy, an author and philanthropist, also commented on this issue. She mentioned that passion for work can help people forget about the time spent working. The conversation around work-life balance continues to stir debate in the business community.