Chairman Mahindra Backs Quality Over Quantity in 90-Hour Work Debate

Mumbai: Anand Mahindra, chairman of the Mahindra Group, has weighed in on the debate over a 90-hour workweek, advocating for a focus on quality over quantity. Speaking at the National Youth Festival in Delhi, Mahindra emphasized that if focused on delivering high-quality work, individuals can achieve significant outcomes in even less time.

Mahindra's comments come in response to recent calls from business leaders, including Larsen & Toubro (L&T) Chairman SN Subrahmanyan, who have suggested extending work hours in pursuit of increased productivity. Mahindra stated that the debate surrounding working hours is not just about how many hours people are putting in, but rather about producing quality work.

"If you focus on producing high-quality work, you can achieve significant outcomes even if you only spend 10 hours a week," Mahindra said, highlighting the importance of prioritizing quality over quantity. He also stressed the need for individuals to be "exposed to holistic thinking" and encouraged people from different backgrounds – such as engineers and MBAs – to study arts and culture to make better decisions.

L&T Chairman SN Subrahmanyan's suggestion that employees should give up Sundays and spend even more time at work has sparked outrage on social media. Mahindra responded by emphasizing the importance of striking a balance between work and personal life, saying that individuals need time to "reflect" and bring the right inputs to making decisions.

In a series of responses to queries from followers, Anand Mahindra also spoke about his own use of social media platforms like X, stating that he is not lonely but rather seeking feedback from millions of people on the platform.