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‘When will he work?’: Indian boss rejects candidate for having multiple hobbies
A Hong Kong-based COO recounted an incident that highlights the outdated attitudes still entrenched in Indian workplaces.
Parminder Singh, SN Subrahmanyan, and Narayana Murthy / X/@parrysingh, Website-ltimindtree.com; infosys.com
The debate over work-life balance in India has intensified, with incidents and statements from corporate leaders sparking widespread outrage and discussion.
Adding to the Indian work culture conversation, Parminder Singh, COO of a UK magazine in Hong Kong called Tatler Asia, recently shared a personal anecdote on X (formerly Twitter) that underscores the outdated attitudes still prevalent in Indian workplaces. Singh recounted an incident from years ago when his Indian boss rejected a marketing candidate solely because the applicant mentioned hobbies like running marathons and playing guitar on his CV.
Singh explained in the post, "Once a candidate applied to my team for a marketing role in India. Besides being a capable marketer, his CV mentioned that he runs marathons and plays guitar. My boss didn’t let me hire him, saying, "Yeh aadmi yeh sab kuchh karta hai to kaam kab karega?" (If this person does all these things, when will he work?)," Singh expressed regret over not being able to hire the "capable" candidate.
Once a candidate applied to my team for a marketing role in India. Besides being a capable marketer, his CV mentioned that he runs marathons and plays guitar. My boss didn’t let me hire him, saying, "Yeh aadmi yeh sab kuchh karta hai to kaam kab karega?" I thought such managers…
— Parminder Singh (@parrysingh) January 10, 2025
This led to Singh taking a jab at the recent L&T statement, he added, “I thought such managers were extinct. Turns out they aren't.”
The recent work-life controversy was fueled by a viral video of L&T chairman SN Subrahmanyan, who suggested a 90-hour work week and criticized employees for taking weekends off. "What do you do sitting at home? How long can you stare at your wife? How long can the wives stare at their husbands? Get to the office and start working," he said, sparking widespread condemnation.
The controversy around work-life balance has been going round and round for the past year since Infosys co-founder Narayana Murthy suggested that young Indians should work a 70-hour workweek to boost the country’s productivity. However, Murthy's comments drew sharp criticism, with many arguing that such expectations would lead to burnout and mental health issues.
These statements from leaders of India’s corporate industry highlight the stark divide between traditional corporate mindsets and evolving employee expectations.
Singh further shared, "Google had an unwritten policy: if you excelled in the Olympics, you could enter a Google office and get a job. Excellence is a transferable skill!" Singh’s remarks have reignited discussions about hiring individuals with diverse interests and the benefits of work-life balance.
Corporate leaders, including Anand Mahindra, Harsh Goenka, and Adar Poonawalla, were quick to denounce the L&T chairman's remarks, emphasizing the importance of respecting employees’ time.
“I am on X not because I am lonely. My wife is wonderful, and I love staring at her,” said Anand Mahindra, Mahindra Group chairman.
Following the remarks by the L&T chairman, Adar Poonawalla, CEO and Owner of Serum Institute of India, and Chairman of Poonawalla Fincorp, took to X to share his thoughts. He wrote, “Yes, @anandmahindra, even my wife @NPoonawalla thinks I am wonderful; she loves staring at me on Sundays. Quality of work over quantity always. #worklifebalance.”
Yes @anandmahindra, even my wife @NPoonawalla thinks i am wonderful, she loves staring at me on Sundays. Quality of work over quantity always. #worklifebalance pic.twitter.com/5Lr1IjOB6r
— Adar Poonawalla (@adarpoonawalla) January 12, 2025
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