Amid an ongoing debate between striking a work-life balance with L&T chairman SN Subrahmanyan recommending a 90-hour work week and Infosys co-founder Narayana Murthy 70 hours a week, Serum Institute CEO Adar Poonawalla stated that "eight hours per day is enough" for work. "I would say I work eight hours a day. Sometimes on weekends, if it's needed. There may be some days when I would be slope skiing. It depends. I could have 16 hours a day also. During Covid-19, I was coming home at 11 pm. So, it all depends on the journey and stage you are at. If you are an entrepreneur and building your business, you absolutely should work hard and do whatever it takes. After that, it is the quality of work, working smart, and working strategically that is needed at the senior level," Poonawalla said. "I am not saying that there is a substitute for hard work. We work on Saturdays. A human being can't be productive beyond 8-9 hours. Sometimes, you have to put in those hours, but it is fine. I do it, and my staff does it. But you can't do it daily," Poonawalla told India Today. What the ideal number of working hours? Experts like consultant neurologist Dr Sudhir Kumar, Apollo Hospitals, Hyderabad, said the ideal number of working hours is 8 per day or 40 a week (in a 5-day working week). For those who work 6 days a week, the working hours can extend to 48 hours. "Limiting working hours to 8 hours ensures productivity at work. Longer working hours can reduce productivity and can lead to burnout over a long time. Mental health also suffers, and conditions such as anxiety, depression, and stress are higher among those who work long hours," said Dr Kumar. In today’s rapidly evolving work landscape, productivity has been redefined to focus on the quality of work delivered rather than debate on the number of hours clocked in, said Anuj Munot, founder and CEO, UrbanWrk. "This shift towards quality over quantity is not just about improving employee satisfaction—it’s essential for driving innovation and resilience in businesses; I believe one should work hard and work smart to achieve the much-needed work-life balance," said Munot. Dr Kumar stressed that working more than 55 hours a week is associated with an increased risk of severe conditions such as heart attack and stroke and deaths related to cardiovascular diseases. "Longer working hours leave less time for sleep and exercise. Sleep deprivation and lack of physical activity further lower the productivity at work," said Dr Kumar. Kiara Jain, lifestyle coach and founder, Mindful Living, noted that the duration of an individual being productive varies. "There are always two sides to each argument. The key here is to ensure productivity and results. If one reaches a stage of burnout, working 90 hrs may still not be enough for that individual to achieve a particular target," said Jain. Dr Manjusha Agarwal, senior consultant, internal medicine, Gleneagles Hospital Parel Mumbai also noted tha an individual’s productivity cannot be measured in certain set hours. "One cannot give a one-size-fits-all answer when it comes to how long one can stay productive. Some people may stay fresh, energetic, and productive for 9 to 10 hours while some may even struggle after an hour or two. our productivity may be affected if your work is mentally demanding," said Dr Agarwal. Techniques such as Pomodoro, which allow one to take mini breaks in between, can help increase productivity. At the same time, a mentally fresh individual may be able to achieve the same in much less time. "Productivity must depend upon an individual’s capacity, which depends on the company and working environments," said Jain. Therefore, one should focus on the quality over quantity of work. "Longer working hours do not automatically translate to more productive work. Restricting work duration to 8 hours per day ensures productivity and better work-life balance," said Dr Kumar. DISCLAIMER: This article is based on information from the public domain and/or the experts we spoke to. Always consult your health practitioner before starting any routine.
