'We are worth much more than that...': Entrepreneur Shantanu Naidu joins ‘18-hour workday’ debate

Freshers should not do ‘rona dhona’, and put in 18 hours a day for at least 4-5 years, Bombay Shaving Company CEO Shantanu Deshpande had recently said. He received severe flak for his remarks.

Published on: Sep 2, 2022, 09:10:18 IST

By HT News Desk, New Delhi

Prefer HTon Google

Share via

Copy link

Entrepreneur Shantanu Naidu, a General Manager in the office of industrialist Ratan Tata, has shared his opinion on ‘the 18-hour workday for freshers' idea, proposed by his namesake, Bombay Shaving Company CEO Shantanu Deshpande. After receiving severe backlash, Deshpande apologised in his ‘final post’ on LinkedIn.

Ratan Tata with 28-year-old Shantanu Naidu, who is the former’s personal assistant and has penned a memoir on the tycoon. (File Photo)

Also Read: Internet shares a piece of its mind with CEO who has no ‘rona-dhona, work 18 hours…' advice for freshers

Naidu, too, took to LinkedIn to opine on the issue. “I think the problem with this toxic hustle culture is that it brings down the value of a person only down to his achievements and productivity, and I think as human beings, we are worth much more than that,” the 28-year-old founder of GoodFellows, a startup which connects youngsters with senior citizens, said in a video message.

People who want to work 18 hours a day are free to do so, Naidu further remarked. “But to preach that to young, impressionable minds is not a great idea because that's not what makes us individuals and human beings,” he added.

“In the end, it's more relationships, and love, and what we leave behind for other people that really makes us human beings, and not being valued at how much work I did today,” the MBA graduate from Cornell University concluded, conceding that his may be a ‘problematic’ opinion, but, nevertheless, is his opinion.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
HT News Desk
Follow the latest breaking news, major developments and agenda-setting stories from India and around the world with the newsdesk at Hindustan Times. Operating round the clock, the desk brings together experienced editors, reporters and correspondents to deliver fast, accurate and contextual reporting across subjects that influence public policy, governance, business, society and international affairs. The HT News Desk covers politics, elections, government policies, the economy, business and markets, science and technology, the environment, law and order, infrastructure, education, climate issues and geopolitics, while closely tracking developments across states, institutions and global capitals. The team also leads coverage of major breaking news events, policy announcements, court proceedings, natural disasters, public emergencies and significant international developments. Reports published by the newsdesk are based on information gathered from reporters on the ground, official statements, government agencies, court records, regulatory filings, recognised institutions and other authoritative sources. Stories undergo editorial scrutiny and verification processes to ensure accuracy, fairness and relevance, and are updated as events evolve and additional information becomes available. Whether covering a key political decision in New Delhi, an economic policy shift affecting millions, a landmark court ruling or a major global event, the HT News Desk aims to provide readers with reliable, fact-based journalism that delivers not only the latest developments but also the context and analysis needed to understand their wider implications.Read More

Get the latest India News, breaking headlines and real-time updates from across the country. Stay informed about politics, government policies, crime, weather and major national developments.