As artificial intelligence accelerates workplace transformation, India faces a defining question: Will smarter technology lead to shorter workweeks, or will professionals work longer than ever before? Globally, conversations around AI lean toward efficiency and balance, with some countries experimenting with four-day workweeks. Yet in India, a starkly different narrative dominates—a celebration of relentless effort and marathon work schedules, championed by some of the country’s most influential business leaders.
AI’s promise: Efficiency without downtime
Global technology leaders, including Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, hail AI as a force multiplier for economic productivity. Automation, they argue, will free employees from repetitive tasks, enabling greater focus on strategic and creative work.But the promise of efficiency doesn’t necessarily translate into less work. In fact, analysts warn that AI could intensify competitive pressures, shorten delivery timelines, and demand constant upskilling. While previous industrial revolutions eventually reduced working hours, AI-driven transformation is expected to create an always-on culture.Trials of four-day workweeks in Europe and other regions have reported productivity boosts, along with lower attrition and improved well-being. However, India remains resistant to such models—partly because of its corporate ethos that still glorifies long hours as a badge of commitment.
The 70-hour rhetoric: Hard work as a national mission
The most vivid example of India’s work culture debate came from Infosys founder N.R. Narayana Murthy, who last year urged young professionals to work 70 hours a week to help India “compete globally and achieve economic growth.” His remarks ignited a nationwide discussion—praised by some as patriotic zeal and criticised by others as tone-deaf to mental health realities.Murthy is not alone. Several senior executives, including Mohandas Pai and leaders in traditional sectors like manufacturing and infrastructure, have echoed similar sentiments, framing extended hours as essential for national progress. This perspective draws on a deep-rooted belief that success is directly proportional to visible effort and time spent at work.Yet critics argue that this “work till you drop” mindset overlooks the hidden costs of overwork—ranging from burnout and declining productivity to mental health crises among India’s urban workforce.
Maharashtra’s labour law proposal: A legal push for longer days?
Adding fuel to the debate, the Maharashtra government has proposed amendments allowing 10-hour workdays and expanded overtime limits, citing the need for greater industrial flexibility. If approved, this move could institutionalise longer work hours at a time when much of the world is prioritising work-life balance.Labour unions warn this could normalise overwork as a state policy, setting a precedent for other regions. Meanwhile, younger professionals, especially Gen Z, are vocal about rejecting such norms, demanding balance, flexibility, and purpose-driven work.
The hidden cost of celebrating overwork
Research consistently shows that excessive work hours are counterproductive. Beyond 50 hours a week, productivity per hour drops sharply, creating a false sense of achievement rather than real gains. Prolonged overwork has been linked to cardiovascular disease, depression, and chronic fatigue—issues increasingly visible in India’s tech and finance sectors.Moreover, innovation suffers in a culture that glorifies exhaustion. Creativity thrives on rest, reflection, and diverse experiences—none of which are compatible with a 70-hour grind culture.
Gen Z pushes back: Balance over burnout
India’s youngest professionals are rewriting the rules of success. Surveys indicate that 78% of Gen Z employees prioritise mental health and flexibility over extra hours. They value employers who measure performance by outcomes, not attendance. For this generation, technology, including AI, is a tool for smarter work, not harder work.Companies that fail to adapt risk losing top talent to organisations that embrace hybrid models, wellness initiatives, and clear boundaries. In an increasingly globalised job market, corporate culture is as much a competitive advantage as compensation.
India at a crossroads: Tradition meets transformation
India’s professional landscape is being reshaped by three forces: AI-driven efficiency, entrenched beliefs in hard work, and generational demand for balance. The 70-hour rhetoric may resonate with some, but it clashes with global trends and workforce expectations.As organisations deploy AI to streamline processes, the opportunity exists to redefine success—from hours clocked to impact delivered. Businesses that cling to old models risk burnout-driven attrition, while those that prioritize efficiency and well-being will lead in innovation and talent retention.
The defining question
Will India continue to celebrate overwork as a virtue, or will it embrace a future where technology delivers smarter, healthier, and more sustainable success? In the age of AI, the measure of progress may no longer be hours spent at the desk, but the value created within them.
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