The mention of working 90 hours isn’t about the hours, but the spirit behind it. For those dreaming of success without hard work, frustration is the inevitable result

During a visit to Yiwu, China, a few years ago, I explored a bustling wholesale market with an Indian friend who had recently moved there. We spent the day navigating the shops, as he secured raw materials for his business, with deliveries scheduled according to international standards. Though we had a train to catch the next day, my friend was determined to inspect the goods before finalising the payment. When informed about this, the Chinese trader suggested, “You can inspect the goods at 2 or 3 in the morning. They will be ready for you.” We were astonished—who works at such hours?

Curious, we accompanied our friend that night. As we approached the market in the early hours, we anticipated silence. Instead, the market was alive! Dozens of shops were bustling with activity—sorting, manufacturing, and preparing orders. It was a hive of industry, with people of all ages, from teenagers to elderly women, working with equal dedication.

Seeing our surprise, the trader smiled and explained, “This is normal here. Every family member contributes to the business. Out of 24 hours, the shop is closed for only two to three. Everyone, from children to women, has their set hours.” This relentless effort might be one of the reasons behind China’s remarkable economic standing. We observed the same dedication in every city we visited, a testament to their unwavering work ethic.

Reflecting on these experiences, I couldn’t help but compare them to our work culture back home. While we often debate work-life balance, the drive and commitment I witnessed in China present a striking contrast, offering much to ponder.

In our country, discussions about weekly work hours are common, and at such times, those scenes from China come to mind. Infosys founder Narayana Murthy has spoken about this before.

Recently, Larsen & Toubro Chairman S. N. Subrahmanyan’s comments gained attention. He expressed a desire for his employees to work even on Sundays. He said in a video, “I regret that I can’t make you work on Sundays. If it were up to me, I would have you work on Sundays as well, because I work on Sundays.”

Subrahmanyan’s comment might be contentious, but it is not about working on Sundays or the number of hours per week. It is about how work is done and the approach toward it.

We know our own characteristics well. Without putting on a facade, we must accept that we have normalised certain negative traits: corruption, filth, an inadequate and weak education system, dirty politics, and an irresponsible attitude towards duties. Still, they don’t seem to bother us much. History and our slow progress bear witness to this. Otherwise, after gaining independence in 1947, we wouldn’t still be lagging behind.

Regarding work culture, our lofty claims of government offices being sluggish still hold true to a great extent, despite technological advancements and improvements. The private sector doesn’t boast an exemplary work culture either. Our system survives because some people work like donkeys, taking on the load, while others slack off.

In any company or institution, you will find two types of people: those who consider hard work as worship and those who avoid it. If someone talks about working 90 hours a week in such a scenario, it is not a matter to laugh at. One should categorise such a person into the first group, and those who mock them into the second. End of the matter.

A few days ago, I met a leading industrialist who built a business empire from a one-bedroom apartment. He didn’t sugarcoat his words: “Nothing replaces money. It only seems trivial once you have so much that spending and managing it becomes a chore. Until then, it’s about relentless hard work, unwavering focus, and dedication. Office hours are irrelevant. If your body and mind aren’t constantly engaged in work, you are not just failing yourself but also dragging down the company and the country. Ignoring your responsibilities after hours isn’t just lazy, it’s irresponsible.”

The implicit meaning of working 90 hours a week lies here. If you exclude Sundays, it amounts to about 15 hours of work daily. After accounting for eight hours of sleep, you are left with one hour for everything else. It’s not about continuous toil but about being alert, dedicated, and responsible for those 15 hours. It’s about not compromising on the hours you are paid for, and unfortunately, we are lax in this aspect.

Recently, we discussed how many days a salaried person actually works in a year. The calculations were made without any exaggeration. 52 two Sundays, 21 paid leaves, 10-12 public holidays… one after another, such unproductive days were listed. Then, office hours were considered, including lunch breaks, personal activities (even if we ignore the company’s WhatsApp messages after office hours, we have to check and respond to personal WhatsApp messages during office hours, because, after all, we too have a life, right?), and natural breaks. As the calculations continued, the number of working days dwindled. So, how many days does a person actually work in a year? Not more than one and a half hundred. And if the company gives Saturdays off too? Subtract another fifty-two days.

In many companies in India, both Saturdays and Sundays are holidays. Legally mandated leaves, public holidays are also inevitable. Even if we consider just this much, the number of working days in a year stops at around 152. Out of those 152 days, how many people work with full dedication, with complete commitment, during office hours?

The discussion about working 90 hours weekly is directly related to this. It is also directly related to our laziness, our carelessness, our negligence. We don’t want to work hard from the heart, but when the year ends, we definitely want an appraisal. We get upset if someone else gets promoted more than us. When someone from our circle or someone who studied with us progresses, it bothers us. There are two reasons for this: one is reasonable, and the other is nonsensical. The reasonable reason is that in India, even today, manipulators, sycophants, and corrupt people, those with connections, move ahead with minimal effort and enjoy great benefits. If seeing them makes us feel envious, it is entirely reasonable. The nonsensical reason is that many of those who progress are genuinely hardworking and have achieved something through their efforts. Instead of praising them, we feel jealous, gossip about them. That shows a lack of good values. Instead of being inspired by them, identifying our shortcomings, and improving ourselves, we criticise them? That’s the limit!

Our underachievers find it easy to have excuses. “Look at America! People seem happy and prosperous working fewer hours.” They say this, unaware that in Germany, people work only 35 hours a week, and in the Netherlands, only 30 hours. So, what now? Should we also work 30 hours like them? Let’s do it, but who will guarantee working those 30 hours diligently? Let them raise their hands first. How many hands will be raised, we can imagine. What do you say?

The fault does not lie solely with individuals or mentalities. There is a significant flaw in our system too. When we drove out the British, if we had also embraced their work ethic, today, the situation would have been much better. Criticising the British is entirely justified. They caused us immense harm and sowed, to an extent, the seeds of communalism. Even if we consider that, it is not entirely wrong. However, they also taught us the importance of work, encouraged foresight; why forget that? Without such an attitude, the British, a tiny nation, would never have ruled over numerous continents of the world.

The 90 hours of work should be understood not just as words, but as the underlying sentiment. Even if we can’t change the nation personally, for our happiness and progress, can’t we become disciplined, focused, and fantastic individuals? Or should there be a problem in doing that too?

There is no substitute for money, and similarly, there is no substitute for hard work, friends. Once the habit of hard work becomes a part of our nature, we learn to enjoy life more than before, even while working. Even if excellent work doesn’t always bring excellent money, the satisfaction of saying “I tried” is a reward in itself. This satisfaction is the greatest earning of life. This satisfaction ensures a peaceful night’s sleep and is a reward beyond measure. What do you say?

Work Culture Worldwide

Countries with Maximum and Minimum Weekly Working Hours

• Maximum Working Hours:
  1. Mexico: Known for some of the longest working hours globally, often exceeding 42 hours per week.
  2. South Korea: Despite recent labour reforms, many employees still work long hours.
  3. Chile: Another country with high average working hours, reflecting a strong work ethic.
  4. Greece: Known for long working hours, especially in sectors like tourism and agriculture.
  5. India: In many industries, particularly IT and manufacturing, extended working hours are common.
• Minimum Working Hours:
  1. Germany: Known for its efficient work culture, with an average of around 35 hours per week.
  2. Netherlands: Dutch workers enjoy some of the shortest working hours globally, around 30 hours per week.
  3. Norway: With a strong emphasis on work-life balance, the average is around 34 hours per week.
  4. Denmark: Workers typically have a 37-hour workweek, supported by generous welfare policies.
  5. France: Known for the 35-hour workweek, although many industries extend this through voluntary overtime.

Countries with Maximum Holidays

• Maximum Holidays (Weekly and Annually):
  1. Iran: Offers a large number of public holidays and Fridays as a weekend day.
  2. Cambodia: Known for the highest number of public holidays annually, around 28.
  3. Sri Lanka: Provides numerous public holidays and religious observances throughout the year.
  4. India: Offers a wide range of public holidays due to its diverse culture and religions.
  5. France: Employees enjoy a generous amount of holidays and paid leave, including “RTT” days (reduction of working time).

Examples of Countries Rising Due to Hardworking People

• Japan: Post-World War II, Japan rebuilt its economy through the diligence and discipline of its workforce, leading to rapid industrial growth and becoming a global leader in technology and manufacturing.
• Germany: After World War II, the “Wirtschaftswunder” (economic miracle) was driven by hard work, industrial innovation, and a focus on quality, making Germany one of the strongest economies in the world.

Top Individuals Known for Hard Work

• Elon Musk: CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, known for working 80-100 hours a week to drive innovation and meet tight deadlines.
• Jeff Bezos: The founder of Amazon, who built a global empire through relentless focus on customer service and long-term vision.
• Indra Nooyi: Former CEO of PepsiCo, recognized for her dedication and transformational leadership, often working long hours to achieve company goals.
• Satya Nadella: CEO of Microsoft, known for his strategic vision and tireless efforts in steering the company towards cloud computing and AI.