<p>Veeba founder and Shark Tank India judge Viraj Bahl has made headlines over his strong comments on the 70-hour-workweek. The businessman has very strongly opposed the entire concept calling the practice “crazy”.</p><p>His comments were with regards to Infosys co-founder Narayana Murthy's statement, made months ago, of long working hours to boost productivity that sparked several debates. </p><p>Viraj Bahl on the 'The Rockford Circle' podcast with Chitrangada Singh said that the 70-hour workweek is a "batsh**t crazy" idea for employees.</p>.<p>"It is okay for a founder to work 70 hours because he is the biggest commercial gainer out of a 70-hour work week." "To expect your team to work 70 hours is crazy. Either compensate them in the same way you are getting compensated for working 70 hours, proportionately, or do not expect them to work 70 hours,” Bahl added.</p><p>Bahl argued that it is logical for a founder to work for longer hours as the person would directly benefit from it financially. However, it is not fair and also irrational to expect the same from an employee without having been fairly compensated for his extra work.</p><p>In the podcast, he also mentioned that recently his company Veeba has reduced the working hours for their employees and they do not work for more than than 40 hours a week.</p><p>"At our company, we recently decided to shorten the work hours," Bahl said. "We now operate on a 40-hour workweek. Demanding that someone put in 70 hours without offering them a share in the company’s success is simply irrational."</p><p>He said, "Expecting someone to work 70 hours without an equity upside is outdated. I think it's an obsolete idea. Seventy-hour weeks should not happen."</p><p>Now coming to Narayana Murthy’s controversial 70-hour work week statement which he made during a podcast with former Infosys CEO Mohandas Pai last year, he was subject to much criticism from various sections of the working population in the country and thereby sparked a work-life balance debate.</p><p>Murthy said, "India's work productivity is one of the lowest in the world. Unless we improve our work productivity, unless we reduce corruption in the government at some level, because we have been reading, I don't know the truth of it, unless we reduce the delays in our bureaucracy in taking this decision, we will not be able to compete with those countries that have made tremendous progress.”</p><p>“Therefore, my request is that our youngsters must say 'this is my country. I'd like to work 70 hours a week'," he added. </p><p>Later in an interview at the CNBC Global Leadership Summit, Murthy defended his 70-hour work week comment, claiming that it is necessary for the economic growth and development for a nation like India. “I don't believe in work-life balance… I am sorry, I have not changed my view; I will take this with me to my grave,” he said during the conversation.</p><p>Emphasising work-life balance, the Veeba founder also spoke about glorification of the hustle and grind culture at workplaces. He believes that while in the early stages of business, it is very important to put in extra efforts to make things work, the hustle culture would eventually become counterproductive for both the employees as well as the company. Having balance in all spheres of life is what Bahl emphasized on.</p>.<p><em>(With DHNS inputs)</em></p>
<p>Veeba founder and Shark Tank India judge Viraj Bahl has made headlines over his strong comments on the 70-hour-workweek. The businessman has very strongly opposed the entire concept calling the practice “crazy”.</p><p>His comments were with regards to Infosys co-founder Narayana Murthy's statement, made months ago, of long working hours to boost productivity that sparked several debates. </p><p>Viraj Bahl on the 'The Rockford Circle' podcast with Chitrangada Singh said that the 70-hour workweek is a "batsh**t crazy" idea for employees.</p>.<p>"It is okay for a founder to work 70 hours because he is the biggest commercial gainer out of a 70-hour work week." "To expect your team to work 70 hours is crazy. Either compensate them in the same way you are getting compensated for working 70 hours, proportionately, or do not expect them to work 70 hours,” Bahl added.</p><p>Bahl argued that it is logical for a founder to work for longer hours as the person would directly benefit from it financially. However, it is not fair and also irrational to expect the same from an employee without having been fairly compensated for his extra work.</p><p>In the podcast, he also mentioned that recently his company Veeba has reduced the working hours for their employees and they do not work for more than than 40 hours a week.</p><p>"At our company, we recently decided to shorten the work hours," Bahl said. "We now operate on a 40-hour workweek. Demanding that someone put in 70 hours without offering them a share in the company’s success is simply irrational."</p><p>He said, "Expecting someone to work 70 hours without an equity upside is outdated. I think it's an obsolete idea. Seventy-hour weeks should not happen."</p><p>Now coming to Narayana Murthy’s controversial 70-hour work week statement which he made during a podcast with former Infosys CEO Mohandas Pai last year, he was subject to much criticism from various sections of the working population in the country and thereby sparked a work-life balance debate.</p><p>Murthy said, "India's work productivity is one of the lowest in the world. Unless we improve our work productivity, unless we reduce corruption in the government at some level, because we have been reading, I don't know the truth of it, unless we reduce the delays in our bureaucracy in taking this decision, we will not be able to compete with those countries that have made tremendous progress.”</p><p>“Therefore, my request is that our youngsters must say 'this is my country. I'd like to work 70 hours a week'," he added. </p><p>Later in an interview at the CNBC Global Leadership Summit, Murthy defended his 70-hour work week comment, claiming that it is necessary for the economic growth and development for a nation like India. “I don't believe in work-life balance… I am sorry, I have not changed my view; I will take this with me to my grave,” he said during the conversation.</p><p>Emphasising work-life balance, the Veeba founder also spoke about glorification of the hustle and grind culture at workplaces. He believes that while in the early stages of business, it is very important to put in extra efforts to make things work, the hustle culture would eventually become counterproductive for both the employees as well as the company. Having balance in all spheres of life is what Bahl emphasized on.</p>.<p><em>(With DHNS inputs)</em></p>
