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A Human Can’t Be Productive Beyond 8 or 9 Hours Per Day” – Adar Poonawalla’s Take on Work-Life Balance at WEF 2025 At the World Economic Forum 2025 in Davos, Adar Poonawalla, CEO of the Serum Institute of India, weighed in on the hotly debated topic of extended workweeks, like 70-hour or 90-hour schedules. His statement sheds light on the importance of balance in today’s fast-paced work culture. Poonawalla highlighted: A human being can’t be productive beyond 8 or 9 hours per day. Sometimes you have to put in those extra hours, whether it’s 70 or 90 hours a week—it’s fine. I do it, my staff does it. But you can’t do that every day. This candid remark resonates with many professionals who often struggle with burnout due to long working hours. He further shared his personal approach to work-life balance: I work at least 8 hours a day, and sometimes on weekends if needed. But there are days when I’m just on the slopes skiing or doing something else. It all depends on the day. His perspective underscores a key principle: ✔️ Sustained productivity relies on a balance between focused work and personal time. ✔️ Pushing beyond natural limits daily isn’t sustainable and could negatively impact health, creativity, and long-term success. As industries evolve and expectations grow, leaders like Poonawalla are calling for a shift toward more balanced and humane work environments. 💬 What’s your take on this debate? Do you think long workweeks are necessary for success, or should companies focus on optimizing shorter, more productive work hours? Let’s hear your thoughts! Source: Indian Startup News #Leadership #WorkLifeBalance #Productivity #WEF2025 #WorkCulture #Sustainability #BurnoutPrevention

🚨 The Great Debate: Work Hours vs. Work-Life Balance 🚨 💼 Recent remarks by top industry leaders have reignited the age-old debate on long working hours. Should professionals sacrifice their personal lives to meet corporate goals? Let's dive into the controversy! 🔍 🔹 The Context: L&T Chairman SN Subrahmanyan suggested a grueling 90-hour workweek, even questioning, "How long can you stare at your wife?" His statement drew widespread criticism for undermining work-life balance. 🕒⚖️ 🔹 PM Modi's Advisor Speaks Out: Economist Sanjeev Sanyal, a member of the Economic Advisory Council, slammed the notion of 80-hour workweeks, calling it "silliness." He highlighted the moral hazards of such workplace norms, where employees may appear busy but engage in non-productive activities during office hours. 🏢 “Only very senior managers can sustain such schedules due to the support systems they enjoy,” Sanyal pointed out, adding that excessive hours lead to burnout for most employees. 😓 🔹 Industry Veterans Weigh In: • Anand Mahindra stressed quality over quantity, saying, “In even 10 hours, one can change the world.” 🌍 • Vineet Nayar (ex-HCL CEO) echoed this, criticizing the glorification of long hours: “An unlived life drains energy, creativity, and purpose.” 🎨✨ 🔹 Cultural Shift Needed?: This debate also traces back to Infosys co-founder Narayana Murthy’s October 2023 remark that Indian youth should work 70 hours a week to compete globally. While some agree, many believe it’s time to rethink India’s work culture. 🏃♂️🇮🇳 📊 The Key Takeaways: • Long hours don’t guarantee productivity. Quality > Quantity! ✅ • Burnout harms creativity, health, and workplace morale. 🛑 • Sustainable work cultures attract and retain top talent. 🧲 💬 What’s Your Take? Is the key to success working longer hours or working smarter? Share your thoughts below and join the discussion! 🗨️👇 #WorkLifeBalance #CorporateCulture #Leadership #EmployeeWellbeing #CapitalNexus #WorkSmarterNotHarder #QualityOverQuantity #LongHoursDebate #Burnout #SustainableWorkplace #IndiaInc #LeadershipMatters #FutureOfWork #WorkplaceWellness #CapitalNexus

Redefining Success: Beyond the Obsession with Long Work Hours I’ve been observing a troubling trend among some business leaders who advocate for extended work hours and minimal time off, disregarding the importance of a well-rounded life. Recently, we’ve seen several influential voices promote a philosophy of working 12-14 hours a day, even seven days a week. While the intent may be to push boundaries and achieve success, it neglects a fundamental aspect of human well-being – balance. Work, while essential, is not the sole driver of fulfillment. Family, hobbies, social interactions, and personal passions also shape who we are and fuel our productivity. The idea that working longer automatically leads to greater success is a flawed narrative that can lead to burnout, stress, and a host of health issues. Why should we measure our worth by the hours we clock in rather than the quality of our output? Encouraging work-life balance is key to sustained productivity, innovation, and personal satisfaction. Companies should focus on fostering a culture that values rest, mental well-being, and flexible working conditions, instead of glorifying exhaustive work schedules. Rather than pushing employees to the brink, why not address India's growing unemployment rate by hiring more talent and distributing the workload? This can reduce stress for employees while contributing to society by creating more opportunities for those in need of work. It’s time to challenge this narrative. A successful career should never come at the cost of personal health and happiness. What are your thoughts on this? #MentalHealth #Productivity #Leadership #Wellbeing #SustainableSuccess

💬 Work Hard or Work Smart: The Debate on Work-Life Balance 🌍 Mitali Nikore joined host Sumita Kareer on ET NOW, to discuss the ongoing debate around employee productivity and work culture, featuring insights from Michael Dell, CEO of Dell Technologies, on the need for balance between hard work and leisure. Key points from the discussion 🔎 📌 #Balanced Work Approach: Michael Dell advocates for a healthier work-life balance, emphasizing the importance of rest and personal time alongside #professional commitments, especially amidst the prevailing hustle culture in tech industries. 📌 Employee Burnout: Despite high work hours in India, the issue of burnout, particularly among #women juggling #paidwork and #domesticduties, remains a significant challenge. 📌 Productivity vs. Work Hours: Experts highlight that focusing on outcomes rather than sheer effort may be key to improving #productivity, rather than simply extending work hours. 📌 #WageStagnation & Inflation: As corporate profits rise, wage stagnation coupled with inflationary pressures is a growing concern, underscoring the need for better compensation structures. 💡 How do you balance work and life, and what steps can companies take to prevent burnout? Share your thoughts below! Watch the full discussion here: https://lnkd.in/gd9HpcYu #WorkLifeBalance #EmployeeBurnout #HustleCulture #WorkplaceWellness #Productivity #WageStagnation #MitaliNikore #ETNOW

💼 8 Reasons Why Quality of Work Beats 90-Hour Work Weeks The debate over work-life balance in India is heating up—some argue for 90-hour weeks, while others champion the quality of work. Here’s why focusing on quality wins every time: 1️⃣ Burnout is Real: Long hours lead to exhaustion, reducing productivity over time. Quality work thrives on a rested mind. 2️⃣ Creativity Needs Space: Innovation doesn’t happen when you're drained. Quality requires time to think and ideate. 3️⃣ Micromanagement Isn’t Leadership: To make someone work 90 hours, you end up micromanaging. Great leaders inspire, not control. 4️⃣ Retention Over Attrition: Overworking employees drives them away. Valuing quality ensures talent stays. 5️⃣ Efficiency Over Quantity: It’s about achieving more in less time, not dragging work for hours. 6️⃣ Health Matters: Long hours take a toll on mental and physical health, impacting overall performance. 7️⃣ Work-Life Harmony Drives Results: Balanced employees are happier and more productive, delivering superior results. 8️⃣ Smart Work Outpaces Hard Work: Strategic efforts aligned with goals outperform endless busy work. The bottom line? It's time to prioritize quality over quantity for sustainable growth and innovation. 💬 What’s your take on this debate? Do long hours or quality efforts drive success? Let us know! #WorkLifeBalance #Leadership #Productivity #QualityOverQuantity #EmployeeWellbeing

Work-life balance: A hot topic in India since yesterday! It’s not just Narayana Murthy Sir; many managers today seem to question the very concept of “work-life balance.” While some prefer the term “work-life integration,” the essence remains the same: finding harmony between professional and personal lives. As managers, shouldn’t we pause and evaluate? 1. Why are employees working late hours?     - Frequent requirement or design changes? Lack of planning? 2. Is it always worth it?     - Regulatory changes and deadlines may demand extra effort, but are all late hours justified? 3. What can we do to reduce this?        - Boost team productivity.        - Reduce unnecessary meetings (many employees feel hybrid work often leads to meetings at the office, with actual work starting only at home).        - Proper planning to avoid chaos.        - Minimize context switching.        - Avoid saying "YES" to everything—it’s okay to defer or decline some requests.        - Factor in employees’ ad hoc leave, training, and meeting hours when planning projects.        - Invest in skill improvement and promote better collaboration via documentation or chat tools. At the same time, employees must also consider that managers are human too. 1. Managers often deal with pressures that the team may not be aware of. 2. We shield the team from these pressures, conveying only the work. 3. We spend more time working than you 4. Employees should take accountability for their respective tasks, 5. Rather than excuses, think about what can be done to complete it 6. Think broader once before you do it, 7. Develop solutions that accommodate future changes. The bitter truth is that India’s labor laws could be more stringent when it comes to protecting employee well-being, regulating work hours, and ensuring work-life balance. Unfortunately, everyone seems to think it’s all about the survival of the fittest. A balanced approach benefits both the Employees and the Organization. #WorkLifeBalance #Productivity #EmployeeWellBeing #WorkLifeIntegration #Manager #SoftwareManager #Plan #IndiaLaborLaw #SurvivalOfTheFittest #WorkLifeStyle #ITIndustryInIndia #SoftwareInIndia #ITInIndia #Survival #HumanBeing #IndiaIT #ChennaiIT #TeamWork

Balancing Personal and Professional Life: A Critical Distinction Have you ever felt the lines between your personal and professional life blur? 🤔 Drawing a clear distinction is essential for a healthy, productive lifestyle. But why is this separation so important, and why do some Indian employers struggle with understanding it? Why Distinguish Personal from Professional Life? Mental Health: Ensuring you have time to unwind and decompress reduces stress and avoids burnout. Productivity: Quality time off boosts creativity and efficiency when you’re back on the clock. Relationships: Personal time is crucial for nurturing relationships with family and friends, which are vital to our overall well-being. The Challenge in the Indian Workplace Indian work culture has deep-rooted traditions and expectations that sometimes blur these boundaries: Cultural Norms: Indian society often espouses a collectivist ethos where work and personal lives are intertwined. Employers might expect employees to be available at all hours, reflecting this norm. Technological Overload: With the rise of remote working tools, employees might find themselves "always on," making it hard to switch off from work. Unclear Boundaries: There’s sometimes an unspoken expectation to prioritize work over personal life, thinking it shows dedication and loyalty. Time for a Change 🎯 Employers: Recognize the importance of work-life balance. Encourage flexible work arrangements and respect personal time. 🎯 Employees: Establish firm boundaries. Communicate them clearly and stick to your personal time. As we continue to adapt to an evolving global work environment, recognizing and respecting the distinction between personal and professional life isn’t just beneficial—it’s essential for sustainable success. How do you balance your personal and professional life? Share your strategies below! 👇 #WorkLifeBalance #MentalHealthMatters #ProfessionalBoundaries #WorkCultureChange

Work-life balance is a hot topic in India, and it's a challenge for many people to maintain. ▶ Long working hours: Many people work more than 50 hours a week, especially those in higher-level positions.  ▶ Long commutes: People spend a lot of time commuting to and from work, which can reduce the time available for other activities.  ▶ Cultural norms: Some cultures view workaholism as an admirable trait.  ▶ Lack of flexible work options: Many employers don't offer flexible work options or incentives for breaks.  ▶ Family responsibilities: Family responsibilities can make it difficult to balance work and life.  ▶ Women in the workforce: Women in the workforce often face challenges with work-life balance, including pressure to do more and be successful.  ▶ Gen Z: A study found that 43% of Gen Z are ready to give up work-life balance for a new-age job. To achieve a better work-life balance, it's important to understand its importance and to agree on where to draw the line at work. It can also be helpful to consult with family, as they are often the ones who gain or lose the most when the balance is off. Divide your day into 𝟴+𝟴+𝟴 𝗵𝗿𝘀 to make a good balance sheet of your life. ☑ 8 hrs of honest hard work, ☑ 8 hrs of good sleep and ☑ 8 hrs should be spent on (3Fs, 3Hs, and 3Ss) Refer below for (3Fs, 3Hs, and 3Ss): ✅ 3Fs are family, friends, and faith. ✅ 3Hs are health, hygiene, and hobby. ✅ 3S are soul, service, and smile. #Worklifebalance #Corporate #MNC #Strategy

📅 ARE YOU REALLY AWAY FROM WORK WHEN YOU'RE AWAY? 📅 Calendar: blocked. Out of office message: set. Laptop: shut. But are you truly unplugged? According to LinkedIn's Workforce Confidence Index, 70% of Indian employees admit to checking in with work even while on leave. Only 30% plan to take time off and completely unplug in the coming months. So, how do you genuinely switch off? Here's what experts suggest: The cultural challenge: In India, dedication and availability are often seen as markers of strong work ethics and commitment. Employees feel staying "always-on" is key to recognition and career growth, reinforced by bosses who subtly (or openly) encourage it. This creates a vicious cycle. Why unplugging matters: Taking time to switch off is essential. It renews your energy, reduces burnout, and eliminates cognitive fatigue. The result? Better focus, sharper productivity, and overall well-being. The workplace role: Organizations play a pivotal part in breaking the cycle. Start by normalizing conversations about wellness and work-life balance. Equip managers with training to support employees in taking guilt-free time off. Lead by example: Leadership must model the behavior. When leaders openly take time off and truly disconnect, it sets the tone for their teams to do the same. This shift in mindset needs to start from the top. Encouraging a culture where employees can genuinely unplug isn’t just good for individuals—it’s great for business. Rested, refreshed employees perform better and drive success. So, the next time you’re tempted to check in during your holiday, ask yourself: Am I truly away? Let’s change the narrative, one step at a time. How does your organization support employees in taking a real break? Share your thoughts below!