“Amidst the ongoing discussion about the 70-hour workweek, Namita Thapar, a judge on Shark Tank India and the executive director of Emcure Pharmaceuticals, has questioned those endorsing this perspective about their ability to allocate time for family and mental well-being. Thapar’s comment was primarily directed at Anupam Mittal, the founder of Shaadi.com and her fellow judge, who had recently revealed that he has been working extensive hours, possibly up to 70 hours per week, for an extended period.”
In response to the Halloween festivities, Namita Thapar expressed her concerns about working 70 hours a week, questioning whether it allows time for family, creating cherished memories, and maintaining good mental health. This message was shared on social media.
Thapar’s remarks followed Infosys founder Narayana Murthy’s call for Indian youth to work a 70-hour workweek to boost India’s overall productivity.
Anupam Mittal, founder of Shaadi.com, responded to Thapar’s post, acknowledging that she likely also invests significant weekly hours in her work. He suggested that it’s better to embrace and seek work-life harmony rather than grappling with work-life balance.
Thapar, however, reiterated her earlier viewpoint, stating that working 70-100 hours a week could result in poor physical and mental health and may not be an ideal approach for employees. She emphasized the importance of helping employees become the best versions of themselves and questioned whether leaders or companies should enforce such long working hours.
Simultaneously, healthcare professionals across the country have highlighted that a 70-hour workweek can increase the risk of health issues such as heart attacks, stress, anxiety, and back pain, among other concerns.