The recent tragic death of a 26-year-old Ernst & Young (EY) employee in Pune has reignited discussions on work-life balance, drawing attention once again to Narayana Murthy’s controversial “70-hour work week” remark. The emotional letter from the deceased’s mother to EY India Chairman Rajiv Memani, in which she accused the company of overworking and exhausting her daughter, has left many shocked and saddened, while also sparking an important conversation on workplace demands and employee well-being.

Narayana Murthy’s remark came during a conversation with former Infosys CFO Mohandas Pai last year, where he suggested that young professionals should work at least 70 hours a week to enhance the country’s overall productivity. This statement quickly ignited heated debates on social media, with prominent figures in the corporate world taking sides. Some supported Murthy’s view, arguing that longer working hours could drive economic growth and global competitiveness, while others criticized the idea, highlighting concerns over employee burnout, mental health, and the importance of work-life balance.

The untimely death of a 26-year-old EY CA in Pune has highlighted the severe demands that many professionals today endure and spurred extensive conversations on the lack of a healthy work-life balance in India’s corporate culture.

X Post on a Seventy-Hour Workweek: CA While EY is receiving criticism, Rishika Gupta stated on X that “overworking and the ‘late-sitting’ culture have become commonplace, not just in the Big 4 but across many corporates.” Do you recall Narayana Murthy’s remark about the 70-hour work week?

Also Read: EY slammed over statement on 26-year-old Pune CA’s tragic death: ‘Typical corporate response’

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