Ex HCL CEO Vineet Nayar scoffs at 90-hr-workweeks, suggests 'Work less, live more' while sharing pic of him getting a head massage on LinkedIn
long working hours gained renewed attention this week following controversial remarks by L&T Chairman SN Subrahmanyan, who suggested employees should work up to 90 hours per week, even on Sundays. Former HCL CEO Vineet Nayar joined the conversation, presenting a contrasting perspective focused on living a fulfilling life rather than measuring productivity by hours worked.
In a LinkedIn post, Nayar expressed concern about the glorifying excessive working hours. “The real question isn’t how much you work. It’s how fully you live.” Criticizing relentless schedules and constant connectivity, he emphasized that such lifestyles drain energy, stifle creativity, and erode purpose. “We glorify long hours, back-to-back meetings, and being always on. But an unlived life drains energy, creativity, and purpose,” he argued.
The entrepreneur shared a picture of him getting a head massage from a street professional named Shah Rukh and wrote, «Today, I didn’t just get a head massage. I took back a moment of my life. nd by the way, Shahrukh gives the best head massage ever. Grateful he kept going till I almost fell asleep.»
Nayar proposed a balanced solution, saying, “Work more if you want. Work less if you can. The number doesn’t matter. What matters is whether you’re making space for moments that make life worth living.” His view aligns with a growing acknowledgment of the importance of work-life balance in maintaining mental well-being and productivity.
Mahindra Group Chairman Anand Mahindra also weighed in, advocating for a
