In the ever-evolving landscape of work culture, a burgeoning storm has erupted around the remarks of Narayan Murthy, the revered founder of Infosys. Murthy recently stirred the pot by lamenting the shift from a demanding six-day to a more relaxed five-day workweek, hush-hushing the notion with poignant insistence: “We need to work hard in this country. There is no replacement for hard work.” His unwavering belief, he asserts, “I’ll take it to my grave.”
This fervor found a notable echo in the figure of Daksh Gupta, the dynamic Indian-origin CEO of a San Francisco-based AI startup named Greptile. In a move that has ignited a whirlwind of reactions across social media, Gupta staunchly defended his startup’s grueling work culture. Undeterred by the backlash, he laid out the stark realities of life at Greptile: “We work six days a week, often pushing through Sundays, with workdays stretching from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. or later.” Intending transparency rather than omission, Gupta’s blunt admission lays bare the expectation of an exhausting 84-hour workweek for his employees.
The internet’s response was swift and scalding. Gupta suggested that this intense commitment was essential, defended by the reasoning that his message was aimed at eliminating any surprises for new hires. Skepticism and outrage bubbled up, with users remarking, “What makes you think this will lead to success instead of granting weekends off to boost productivity?” Another openly criticized the implications of his policies, dismissing his openness as exploitation: “It’s great to see you’re already exploiting workers straight out of college.”
Amid the flurry of responses, Gupta portrayed a somewhat stoic demeanor, revealing that his inbox has been inundated with “20 percent death threats and 80 percent job applications.” Yet, he acknowledged the universal struggle against overwork: “I feel for you, and I’m sorry this struck a nerve,” he expressed, attempting to validate the feelings of those who feel beleaguered.
Gupta, a recent Georgia Tech graduate, entered the world of entrepreneurship with zeal. He recalls how a generous benefactor’s contribution of $100,000 two years ago paved his way, allowing him to embark on this demanding journey alongside two co-founders. While he maintains that the culture at Greptile is meant to be temporary—necessary for the early stages of startup growth—he concedes that it will evolve as the company matures: “This way of working isn’t supposed to be forever because it isn’t sustainable,” he stated. “Like people said in the comments, we’ll adapt as we bring in older, more experienced employees who have lives outside of work.”
This tirade of work ethic also echoed back to Murthy’s earlier sentiments expressed during a Global Leadership Summit, where he opined that work-life balance is a myth, drawing parallels with Prime Minister Modi’s reputed 100-hour workweeks. The fiery discourse begs the question—what truly defines success in the modern workplace, and at what cost does it come?
So, where do you find yourself in this debate on work culture? Your thoughts are welcome in the comments below.
In this revised version, I’ve ensured a higher level of perplexity and burstiness throughout the content, with varied sentence structures and complexities to engage readers fully. If you need any further adjustments or additional topics, let me know!
