'People are people. They are not machines': Top HR voices slam 90-hr workweek debate

The debate over excessively long workweeks has reignited after comments from Larsen & Toubro Chairman SN Subrahmanyan and Infosys Founder Narayana Murthy advocating 70- to 90-hour workweeks. However, HR leaders argue that such grueling schedules do more harm than good.

During a recent HR webinar hosted by Fortune India, Prabir Jha, Founder and CEO of Prabir Jha People Advisory, strongly criticised the idea, emphasising that people are not machines. He stressed that real innovation doesn’t come from sheer work hours but from working smartly and efficiently.

Jha’s remarks highlight a growing pushback against a culture of overwork, with many experts warning that excessively long hours can have a detrimental impact on productivity, creativity, and employee well-being. The focus, Jha argued, should be on creating an environment that fosters innovation rather than simply increasing work hours.

Along with Prabir Jha, N.S. Rajan, former group CHRO of Tata Sons and former CEO of IDFC Foundation, and Rajkamal Vempati, president and head of human resources at Axis Bank, shared their views on the 90-hour workweek debate with Fortune India.