Abuse of Power
Why Such High Commission for L&T Chairman SN Subrahmanyan? Rs 35.28 Crore as Commission—As an Employee, Isn’t He Already Paid for His Role?
Larsen & Toubro (L&T) Chairman SN Subrahmanyan earned a total remuneration of Rs 51 crore in FY 2023-24, which is 534.57 times the median salary of the company’s employees. His salary package included a base pay of Rs 3.6 crore, Rs 1.67 crore in prerequisites, Rs 35.28 crore as commission, and Rs 10.5 crore in retirement benefits.
Subrahmanyan, however, has come under fire for controversial remarks suggesting employees should work 90 hours a week. In an undated video shared on Reddit, the chairman expressed regret over not being able to make employees work on Sundays.
Controversial Remarks
“I regret I am not able to make you work on Sundays. If I can make you work on Sundays, I will be more happy, because I work on Sundays,” Subrahmanyan said during an employee interaction. He questioned employees’ weekend activities, asking, “What do you do sitting at home? How long can you stare at your wife? How long can the wife stare at the husband?”
[Nominate for ‘Women in Cyber’]
When asked why L&T employees are still required to work six days a week instead of following the standard five-day work week, Subrahmanyan cited the example of Chinese workers, claiming they work 90 hours a week. “If you have got to be on top of the world, you have to work 90 hours a week. Get going, guys,” he urged.
Massive Online Backlash
The remarks sparked widespread criticism, with celebrities like Deepika Padukone and industrialist Harsh Goenka among those condemning his comments. Social media users criticized the chairman for being out of touch with the realities faced by average employees.
One user, Dr. Poornima, pointed out the disparity between Subrahmanyan’s earnings and the lives of ordinary employees. “Those hardworking people who work for your company don’t have 7 to 8 servants to do household chores like washing clothes or cleaning cars. Let your young employees enjoy family life,” she wrote.
[Nominate for Cyber Policing Award]
Salary Disparity Highlights Issue
The median salary of L&T employees in FY24 was Rs 9.55 lakh, while Subrahmanyan’s remuneration increased by 43.11% compared to the previous year. Critics noted that his substantial earnings exempt him from household responsibilities, giving him more flexibility to focus on work.
L&T Responds
In response to the backlash, L&T issued a statement defending Subrahmanyan’s remarks. “At L&T, nation-building is at the core of our mandate. For over eight decades, we have been shaping India’s infrastructure, industries, and technological capabilities. The Chairman’s remarks reflect a larger ambition, emphasizing that extraordinary outcomes require extraordinary effort. We remain committed to fostering a culture driven by passion, purpose, and performance,” said an L&T spokesperson.
Despite the company’s justification, the controversy has reignited debates about work-life balance and the expectations placed on employees in high-demand industries.
