So, you thought a 70-hour work week sounded a bit… ambitious, maybe even bonkers? Well, buckle up, because Narayana Murthy, co-founder of Infosys and a man who definitely knows a thing or two about building a massive, successful company, apparently thinks that’s just a warm-up act. Last year, his call for young Indians to put in 70 hours a week for the sake of national productivity sent ripples-no, let’s be real, tsunamis-through social media and water cooler conversations everywhere. Now, word on the street, or rather, from a recent interview, is that 70 hours? That’s not enough. Yeah, you read that right. My jaw practically hit the floor, and I’m guessing yours did too.

It’s one thing to preach hard work, totally another to suggest we all basically move into our offices. I mean, where does it end? Are we just supposed to permanently glue ourselves to our desks, fuelled by questionable coffee and the distant dream of a weekend that never arrives? It makes you wonder, truly, what constitutes a healthy, productive life in the eyes of someone at that level of corporate power. Is it all just about the numbers, the GDP, the bottom line, or is there still room for, you know, actual living?

The Gospel of Grind-And Then Some

Murthy’s initial 70-hour suggestion was already a head-scratcher for a lot of us. It came from a place of wanting India to catch up, to leapfrog, to dominate the global economy-a noble goal, sure. He argued that young people, especially, needed to put in the kind of hours that nations like post-war Germany and Japan did to rebuild their economies. And yeah, there’s a historical precedent for intense national effort transforming a country’s fortunes. But that was in very specific, post-catastrophe circumstances, right? And it wasn’t just about hours, it was about a whole lot of other strategic decisions too.

Here’s where it gets interesting, though. When he doubled down, suggesting that 70 hours might actually be on the low side, it stirred up the pot even more. It’s not just about working hard, it’s about redefining what ‘hard work’ even means. Is it an endless marathon? Or is it about smarter, more efficient, more innovative work?

The Real Cost of Relentless Hours

Now, I’m not knocking dedication, far from it. Anyone who’s ever built something meaningful knows it takes sweat, tears, and late nights. You put in the effort because you care, because you’re passionate. But there’s a line, isn’t there? A point where diminishing returns kick in, where burnout becomes not just a possibility but an inevitability. We’ve all seen it, maybe even experienced it.

• Burnout Epidemic: We’re already seeing global discussions around employee well-being, mental health crises related to work stress, and the struggle to maintain any semblance of work-life balance. Adding more hours to an already stretched day seems, well, counterproductive to these efforts.
• Productivity Paradox: Studies consistently show that beyond a certain point-often around 40-50 hours-additional hours don’t necessarily translate into increased or better output. In fact, fatigue can lead to more mistakes, lower quality, and a general brain fog.
• Innovation vs. Exhaustion: Innovation, the kind that drives real progress, often comes from fresh perspectives, from downtime, from stepping away and letting your subconscious connect the dots. You can’t force pure genius on an exhausted brain.

It’s like trying to squeeze juice from an orange that’s already been fully juiced-you might get a few more drops, but at what cost to the orange, or in this case, the human?

“The relentless pursuit of more hours can paradoxically lead to less creativity, less efficiency, and ultimately, less overall value.” – A very tired journalist (me, right now).

Beyond the Clock-Punching Mentality

The conversation Murthy has sparked is important, though, even if his specific solution feels a bit… extreme. It forces us to think about what true productivity looks like. Is it literally the number of hours you’re physically present, or the impact you make during those hours? I’d argue it’s the latter, any day of the week.

Quality Over Quantity, Always?

Think about it. Two people, same job. One clocks in 70 hours, but spends a good chunk of that time scrolling social media, attending unproductive meetings, or just generally feeling overwhelmed and unfocused. The other person works a solid, focused 40-50 hours, optimizes their time, collaborates effectively, and delivers innovative solutions. Who’s more productive? Who’s contributing more to the economy, to the company, to progress? Seems like a no-brainer to me.

This isn’t to say that working hard isn’t crucial. It absolutely is. But there’s a difference between working hard and working senselessly. We’re seeing companies experiment with four-day workweeks, and in many cases, finding that productivity either stays the same or even increases, because employees are more rested, more motivated, and frankly, just happier. It’s about leveraging human potential, not just burning it out.

We need to foster environments where people feel valued, where their contributions are recognized beyond just the sheer number of hours they put in. Because when people feel respected and have a good quality of life outside of work, they’re more likely to bring their A-game when they are on the clock. It’s a holistic approach, not just a numerical one.

Where Do We Go From Here?

So, a 70-hour week, or even more, as Murthy now hints? It’s a conversation starter, for sure, but maybe not the blueprint for future success for everyone. While the ambition of leaders like Murthy is undoubtedly a driving force for economic growth, there also needs to be a serious consideration of the human factor. What kind of society are we building if the price of progress is an existence devoid of personal life, hobbies, family time, or even just a good night’s sleep?

Ultimately, this isn’t just about India, it’s about a global discussion on what we value. Is it simply more? Or is it better? Hopefully, we can find a sweet spot where innovation flourishes not because everyone’s working themselves to the bone, but because they’re empowered, inspired, and, most importantly, human. Because a marathon of endless hours doesn’t make for a sprint to success; it just makes for a lot of very, very tired people. And frankly, who wants that?