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US CEO sparks debate on work ethic of Indian employees
Indian-origin CEO Varun Vummadi comments add to ongoing discussions on work culture in India, following similar controversies from Infosys and L&T.
Varun Vummadi / LinkedIn/Varun Vummadi
San Francisco-based CEO and IIT alumnus Varun Vummadi ignited a heated debate on Jan. 30 with his post on X, where he criticized the work ethic of Indian software engineers.
His remarks, particularly regarding their reluctance to adopt six-day work weeks despite high salaries, have drawn significant attention and sparked discussions on work-life balance.
“I've noticed a pattern in hiring engineers for our Indian office,” Vummadi stated. “Even with a base salary of ₹1 crore, many are unwilling to work hard. A significant number of engineers with 3-8 years of experience are reluctant to work six days a week,” he wrote.
I’ve noticed a pattern in hiring engineers for our Indian office. Even with a base salary of ₹1 crore, many are unwilling to work hard. A significant number of engineers with 3–8 years of experience are reluctant to work six days a week.
— Varun Vummadi (@varunvummadi) January 30, 2025
A similar controversy occurred last year when Narayana Murthy, co-founder of Infosys, stressed the need for long working hours to maintain global competitiveness.
His remarks about a 70-hour workweek were met with criticism, highlighting the negative impact on employees' mental health and personal lives.
The issue resurfaced recently with Larsen & Toubro (L&T), where employees were expected to work long overtime, often on weekends, to meet deadlines. L&T Chairman S N Subrahmanyan proposed a 90-hour workweek.
These comments reflect the pressure many Indian professionals face to prioritize work over personal well-being.
On the other hand, the corporate industry of India feels frustrated about working late every night for low pay, without being treated with respect or having time for themselves.
Radhika Roy, an X user, shared her thoughts on the long working hours and Indian work culture, “Have been in Europe for 6 months now & have started building up a resentment towards work culture in India. You work past 12 AM on a daily basis, only to earn peanuts & to not be respected as an individual. You have no time for yourself. How have we been living like this?”
Have been in Europe for 6 months now & have started building up a resentment towards work culture in India. You work past 12AM on a daily basis, only to earn peanuts & to not be respected as an individual. You have no time to for yourself. How have we been living like this?
— Radhika Roy (@royradhika7) February 1, 2025
Vummadi’s post on X, which gained over 371,000 views, sparked both support and backlash. Some agreed with his concerns, while others defended work-life balance, arguing it’s an issue across industries, not just in software engineering.
As the backlash grew, Vummadi doubled down on his stance in a follow-up post on February 2. He argued that work-life balance is a buzzword that gains attention but is not essential for success, stating, “So work-life balance is what cuts it for attention and press in the Indian crowd. People who are willing to work hard—hope they don’t get eaten up by this virus; many successful startups worked six or seven days a week. @elonmusk is a living example of where you can be if you work hard.”
So work-life balance is what cuts it for attention and press in Indian crowd. People who are willing to work hard hope they don't get eaten up by this virus; many successful startups did 6 or 7 days a week. @elonmusk is a living example of where you can be if you work hard.
— Varun Vummadi (@varunvummadi) February 2, 2025
His comments came shortly after Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk tweeted, “DOGE is working 120 hours a week. Our bureaucratic opponents optimistically work 40 hours a week. That is why they are losing so fast.”
In response to Vummadi’s post, one user commented, “Work ethic isn’t just about hours—it’s about impact. If talented engineers are hesitating despite a ₹1 crore base salary, it might be worth considering whether expectations align with modern work culture. Sustainable productivity often beats sheer hours.”
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