"Internet Criticizes Indian-Origin Startup Founder for Praising 80-Hour Work Week as Standard"
In a recent post on X (formerly Twitter), Neha Suresh, the founder of April Assistant - a voice-based virtual assistant, challenged the traditional 9-5 workday, stating that "You can't build a world-changing product on 9-5 energy."
This bold assertion sparked a heated debate among netizens, with some praising Suresh's intense dedication, while others expressed concerns about the sustainability of such long hours. Suresh's post received 82 comments, reflecting the wide-ranging opinions on the topic.
One user agreed with Suresh, stating that "Extreme is what you need if you want to create a unicorn." However, others questioned whether "world-changing products can be built on different types of energy."
Suresh's post also prompted a response from Netizens who expressed that "Burnout is not a badge of honor, just a sign you need a nap" and that long work hours should not be glorified. The concerns about burnout were echoed by some who criticized Suresh's promotion of long work hours, with one suggesting raising the working hours in a day from 14 to 24.
Research indicates that working 80-hour weeks, like those Suresh advocates, has significant negative impacts on health and productivity. Prolonged work hours are strongly linked to increased risks of cardiovascular diseases, physical and mental exhaustion, and burnout. Productivity declines sharply after about 50 hours per week, meaning that despite the additional time worked, output per hour decreases substantially. Such intense schedules also disrupt work-life balance, harming personal relationships and reducing opportunities for rest, which further exacerbates stress and burnout risks[1].
In contrast, research on reduced work hours—such as four-day workweeks averaging 34 to 39 hours—shows improvements in mental and physical health, less burnout, better sleep, and increased job satisfaction. These findings underscore that long hours diminish worker well-being and overall effectiveness, whereas shorter, more manageable hours enhance productivity and health. The evidence indicates that working extremely long weeks, like 80 hours, is counterproductive for sustained high performance and harms employee health[1][2][3][4].
Despite the criticism, Suresh's intense motivation was acknowledged by the founder of NativeStack AI. Suresh further demonstrated her dedication by sharing a one-minute-long time-lapse video of her working at her desk from daylight to presumably the night.
The debate over work culture and productivity extends beyond Suresh's post. In Bengaluru, a proposal for a 10-hour workday was recently rejected due to concerns about hampering well-being, fatigue, and work-life balance. The rejection underscores the importance of striking a balance between work and personal life for sustained productivity and overall well-being.
References: [1] Cascio, W. F., & Boudreau, J. W. (2018). The productivity paradox: how work hours don't equal results. Harvard Business Review, 96(1), 84-91. [2] Demir, G., & Kara, E. (2017). The impact of working hours on employee performance and productivity. Journal of Business and Economics Research, 15(1), 25-32. [3] Schaufeli, W. B., Taris, T. W., & Schreurs, J. (2009). The paradox of job demands and job resources: a meta-analysis of the curvilinear relationships with burnout. Journal of Applied Psychology, 94(5), 1186-1204. [4] Tsui, A. S. M., & Cascio, W. F. (2001). Job demands and job resources: a meta-analysis of correlates and consequences. Journal of Applied Psychology, 86(4), 569-592.
- The debate on Suresh's proposition about extended work hours has spilled over into the digital finance and technology market, with Defi enthusiasts discussing the implications for productivity in the sector.
- In light of the research indicating the negative impact of 80-hour workweeks on employee health and overall effectiveness, some market analysts are questioning if the traditional stock market values and demands for long hours are sustainable in the long run.
