Beyond 9 to 5: India At Work on Murthy Standard Time

By Sadhika on

Co-authored by Ankit and Sadhika on December 24, 2023

In a podcast hosted by 3one4 Capital, Narayana Murthy dropped the bombshell suggestion that Indian youngsters ought to clock a whopping 70 hours a week to catapult work productivity and elevate the nation's global competitiveness. He made the case that India’s work productivity is one of the lowest in the world and calls for educated young Indians to take ownership and commit to higher man hours.


To give a brief introduction, the 77-year-old co-founder of Infosys played a significant role in establishing the company as one of the pioneers in the IT industry, putting India squarely on the global tech map. 


The Case For


Our cultural values emphasise the importance of respecting the guidance of our elders, particularly those who have dedicated their lives to meaningful accomplishments—achievements that many of us may never attain. He was an agent of disruption in a time that was content with mere incremental growth. The case must be made that a certain degree of humility must be adopted before we casually dismiss his advice as anachronistic or contrary to our best interests.


For a country like India, which has a demographic dividend on its side, coupled with a favourable business climate and, for the first time, technology that offers the ability to scale, we might add that it is important to leverage the momentum of the past decade and not miss the boat for the umpteenth time.


Assuming Mr. Murthy’s statement is targeted at a younger demographic (22 to 35 years) that is typically engaged in relatively comfortable desk jobs within air-conditioned offices, the call for more man hours isn’t exactly the same as operating a forklift at a warehouse in the wee hours of the morning. For those who might object that the bar is too low, it's essential to reflect on the working conditions our parents or grandparents faced not too long ago, and put our “suffering” in perspective.


The chief gripe against Mr. Murthy's statement revolves around its perceived undermining of the commonly espoused principle of 'work-life balance.' We opine that this criticism should acknowledge that the extra 20 hours he suggests young individuals contribute are often spent in hedonistic exploits. Binge-watching, drinking, partying, scrolling social media and keeping up with the Joneses, aren’t exactly building a stellar resume or a healthy lifestyle. 


Choosing to spend that time instead on constructive activities such as completing a course, volunteering at an NGO, reading books, inculcating hobbies, or even spending time with their own families, at least contributes to other aspects of their development that ultimately constitute the ‘Life’ component in the Work-Life Balance concept. But let’s face it, that isn’t what most people do in the hours after work.


His remarks hold particular relevance for individuals who may genuinely be unsure about how to improve their skill set or establish a career plan. For such people, putting in a couple of extra hours at their current job is better than no plan at all. Many of the people taking offence on his comments would be the same people complaining after annual appraisal meetings about subpar salary hikes or their colleague’s promotions. Longer working hours may not immediately be followed by noticeably greater pay checks, but they do come with compounded payoffs in the long term.


Let's not overlook the fact that Mr. Murthy is advocating for voluntary effort from employees rather than enforcing a company-wide policy of longer work hours. So, for those corporate "slaves" in pursuit of a tyrant, it seems the search will have to continue elsewhere. No shackles here, just a nudge to seize the opportunities.


The Case Against


In recent decades, India's service sector, including IT, BPO, and software services, has been a major driver of economic growth, contributing significantly to GDP and foreign reserves. According to the Economic Survey 2021-22, the service sector constitutes over 50% of India's GDP. Mr. Murthy's assertion about Indian work productivity prompts a crucial question: Is he targeting the service sector or the entire workforce? It matters because the service sector isn't running the whole show. It employs less than a third of India's working population. 


Additionally, the problems plaguing the other sectors of the economy such as agriculture, manufacturing, public sector undertakings, etc. cannot be divorced from the past, in that India used to be largely a closed agrarian economy until 1991, with little to no emphasis on technological innovation, the advent of which has much boosted the net productivity. 


Here's a reality check: GDP and economic growth aren't just about production; consumption plays a starring role too. So, even the person spending post-work hours on a movie date or pizza night is part of the growth equation.


Amidst the uproar following Mr. Murthy’s remarks, a consensus over the definition of ‘work’ remains elusive. Is work to be measured in number of hours or the output? This ambiguity can pose a risk, potentially hindering the adoption of technologies designed to boost efficiency (read ChatGPT). Employees who achieve greater output in fewer hours, must not be discouraged, else, the company is as good as punishing its top performers. 


We argue that Mr. Murthy’s comments can equally appeal to employees and employers alike. Companies, including his own, can encourage employees to invest additional hours by offering greater flexibility in work hours and establishing a transparent system of rewards and incentives for those who choose to do so. 


The problem with sweeping statements like Mr. Murthy’s is that it fails to take into consideration the heterogeneity of the workforce. Employees who might have family commitments, those who use their time outside work responsibly and are genuinely looking to upskill are hard done by such expectations.


Mr. Murthy cited examples of Germany and Japan in terms of the hard-working capacities of their populations in the aftermath of the Second World War. We need hardly comment that these countries developed a work ethic propelled by historical shame due to the events of the war, and the consequent changes in attitude of their workforce cannot be replicated in India in the absence of the context.


Conclusion


Ultimately, the notion that 'the harder you work, the better the result' is a classic line, often delivered by leaders who are either rooting for their organisation's success or the nation's economic prowess. But let's be real, it's a tightrope walk between boosting the collective good and ensuring individual well-being. Striking this balance not only ensures sustained success but also cultivates a work environment where hard work is purposeful and fulfilling.


Image source: The Persistence of Memory by Salvador Dalí

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