Ratan Tata’s deputy general manager has now commented on the 18-hour workday row that has been a hot topic of debate on social media after Bombay SHaving Company CEO Shantanu Deshpande suggested freshers work for 18 hours a day.
The 18-hour workday for freshers
Entrepreneur Shantanu Naidu, a General Manager in the office of industrialist Ratan Tata, has shared his opinion on ‘the 18-hour workday for freshers’ idea, proposed by Bombay Shaving Company CEO Shantanu Deshpande.
In a video shared on LinkedIn, Naidu said, “I think the problem with this 18-hour workday or toxic hustle culture is that it brings down the value of a person only to his achievements and productivity. I think as human beings, we are worth much more than that.”
The 28-year-old further adds that people who want to hustle and work for 18 hours are free to do so because they believe that’s the way to do it. “But to preach that to young, impressionable minds is not a great idea because that’s not what makes us individuals and human beings,” he said.
“I think, in the end, it’s more relationships and love and what we leave behind for other people that really makes us human beings, and not being valued at how much work I did today.”
Here’s the video:
Watch the #Goodfellows founder, Shantanu Naidu speak on work-life balance for the youth. #ShantanuNaidu #goodfellowsindia #worklifebalance #RatanTata #hustleculture pic.twitter.com/0EEulDPRXE
— The Better India (@thebetterindia) September 2, 2022
The apology
On Wednesday, Bombay Shaving Company founder and CEO Shantanu Deshpande apologized after the massive backlash he received for his LinkedIn post.
“To those who were hurt by my post – apologies for the same. I recognize the need for nuance and context,” he wrote in another LinkedIn post.
Deshpande also spoke with ET Now and said that his message was misunderstood but admitted that the post could have been worded better.
