As the debate on work-life balance continues, Serum Institute of India CEO Adar Poonawalla also shared his opinion, stating that productivity cannot go beyond 8-9 hours and stressed the importance of balancing work and personal life.

Adar Poonawalla's comments came after Larsen & Toubro (L&T) chairman SN Subrahmanyan supported a 90-hour work week, saying he wished his employees could work on Sundays too.

In an interview with Business Today, Poonawalla pointed out the limits of human endurance. "People can't be productive for more than 8-9 hours. Sometimes, you might need to work extra hours, and that's okay, but you can't do it every day. You can't work from Monday to Sunday without a break. That's unrealistic," said the CEO of Serum Institute.

In the row of work-life balance debate, L & T chairman SN Subrahmanyan faced criticism for his comments on work-week hours, especially when he further fueled the controversy by questioning what employees would do at home instead. "How long can you stare at your wife? Come on, get to the office and start working," he had remarked.

Narayan Murthy pushes for a 70-hour workweek

Similarly, Infosys co-founder Narayana Murthy also stirred up controversy by supporting a 70-hour workweek. He urged India’s workforce to work longer hours to help the country reach its full potential globally.

In contrast, Poonawalla emphasized the need for a work-life balance. He said, "These people believe that hard work is crucial, and there's no substitute for it. But it's also important to have a social life and balance things out, so you can come back to work refreshed and be productive."

He mentioned that meeting people and building relationships for charity, with government officials, or through networking is just as important as office hours. However, Poonawalla also pointed out that achieving balance depends on an individual’s journey and stage in life. "If you are an entrepreneur building a business, you should work hard and do whatever it takes. After that, it's about the quality of work, working smart, and working strategically," he added.

The Serum CEO also noted that Subrahmanyan and Murthy didn’t mean working 365 days a year. "They just meant you need to work hard," he said.

Meanwhile, Narayana Murthy clarified his 70-hour workweek comment, saying it’s a "personal choice" and should not be forced on anyone. "No one can tell you what you should or shouldn’t do," Murthy said.

Industrialist Gautam Adani also weighed in on the debate, stating that work-life balance should be a personal decision, not something imposed. A 2021 United Nations report highlighted that long working hours can seriously harm one's mental and physical health.