Despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary, Infosys co-founder Narayana Murthy has once again called for longer working weeks has returned, this time with an emphasis on schedules like the 996-pattern used in parts of China.
Murthy’s comments revive a debate which began in 2024, when he argued that Indian employees should work 70 hours a week.
Who said “have to?”
Can.
We can just acquiesce. That’s always an option.
As for coercion, it’s a spectrum. Killing the bags of bones is only one small slice of that spectrum.
Regardless. Conflicts of interests exist. Coercion exists. We can just try to sleep through it all and hope for the best hopium. Or we can do the adult thing. Admit reality. Prosecute our interests vigorously and sophisticatedly.
We have some thinking to do. I prefer there aren’t any simpleminded and naive folks around me. Being honest about what’s happening is better than our usual game of hopium, copium, fig leaves, whitewashing, and sleeping.