ItemArticle

The 90-h workweek controversy at L&T: leadership, culture and the future of work in India

Title
The 90-h workweek controversy at L&T: leadership, culture and the future of work in India
Creator
Balasundaram, Sathiyaseelan; Sathiyaseelan, Anuradha; Patangia, Bishal
Description
Learning outcomes Upon completion of this case, students will be able to understand the implications of psychological contract theory in organizational contexts. It will allow them to analyse how leadership communication affects internal trust and public perception and critically evaluate the reputational consequences of symbolic leadership behaviour. Case overview/synopsis S.N. Subrahmanyan, Chairman and Managing Director of Larsen & Toubro (L&T), Indias leading engineering conglomerate, made a public statement encouraging employees to work 90?h a week and use Sundays to achieve global excellence. Although intended as a motivational message, the statement triggered nationwide backlash. Employees, industry leaders and the public interpreted the comment as reflecting an outdated, unsustainable work culture, sparking debates around worklife balance and generational shifts in employee values. Internally, the comment created anxiety and ambiguity regarding the companys expectations, especially among younger professionals. The case will allow students to examine how leadership communication can reshape psychological contracts, explore generational tensions in the workplace and evaluate how organizations should respond to reputational challenges while preserving performance culture. The case dilemma centres on whether L&T should clarify, retract or reinforce the chairmans statement. Complexity academic level This case is appropriate for upper undergraduate- and graduate-level programs in organizational behaviour, strategic human resource management, business ethics and leadership studies. Potential programs include, BBA, MBA HR and industrial and organizational psychology. Supplementary Material Teaching notes are available for educators only. Subject code CSS 6: Human Resource Management. 2025 Emerald Publishing Limited
Source
Emerald Emerging Markets Case Studies;Volume;15;Issue;4;pp.1-14
Date
01-01-2025
Publisher
Emerald Publishing
Subject
Corporate culture; Leadership; Organizational behaviour; Trust; Workflow management
Coverage
Balasundaram S., School of Business and Management, Christ University, Bangalore, India; Sathiyaseelan A., School of Psychological Sciences, Christ University, Bangalore, India; Patangia B., School of Psychological Sciences, Christ University, Bangalore, India
Rights
Restricted Access; Hardcopy may be available in the library
Relation
ISSN: 20450621;
Format
online
Language
English
Type
Article

Citation

Balasundaram, Sathiyaseelan; Sathiyaseelan, Anuradha; Patangia, Bishal, “The 90-h workweek controversy at L&T: leadership, culture and the future of work in India,” CHRIST (Deemed To Be University) Institutional Repository, accessed June 18, 2026, https://archives.christuniversity.in/items/show/22848.

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