Infosys co-founder Narayana Murthy says no one can demand long hours at work: ‘These are issues one can introspect on’

Infosys co-founder NRN Narayana Murthy emphasizes introspection over debate on work-life balance and compassionate capitalism for societal good.

Infosys co-founder NRN Narayana Murthy, whose advice to youngsters to work 70 hours a week caused a stir, on Monday (January 20, 2025) said no one can ask people to put in long hours, but it is for everybody to "introspect" and understand the need for it.

Underlining that he has put in over 70 hours a week for 40-odd years during his time at Infosys, Mr. Murthy said these are issues that need to be introspected on, and not debated.

"I can say that I used to get to the office at 6:30 AM and leave at 8:30 PM, that's a fact. I have done it. So, nobody can say that no, that's wrong.

"And I have done it for 40-odd years," he said, replying to a question on work-life balance after delivering the annual 'Kilachand Memorial Lecture' at the IMC in Mumbai.

"These are not issues that should be discussed and debated. These are issues that one can introspect on, one can ingest and one can come to some conclusion and do whatever they want," he added.

"There is nobody who can say 'you should do it, you should not do it," Mr. Murthy said amid a heightened conversation on the topic which only got amplified with Larsen and Toubro Chairman S N Subrahmanyan's recent remarks asking employees to put in 90 hours a week.

Mr. Murthy said one's choices on the efforts that he or she needs to put in have to be guided by the reality of a poor child and whether his or her efforts, or the lack of it, makes the future better for the child or not.