Following up on the “70 work hours/week” controversy put forth by Infosys tycoon Narayana Murthy, people of the internet have expressed one too many reasons for this opinion being unrealistic to achieve. But first things first, how did this begin? Murthy was invited for a podcast by Mohandas Pai, former Infosys HR Director. In conversation with them, Murthy pointed out that India’s work productivity is one of the lowest in the world. He added that India must improve its work productivity, and the youth must shoulder the responsibility for the nation’s progress. “Therefore, my request is that our youngsters must say, This is my country; I want to work 70 hours a week,” he stated.
He also urged Corporate leaders to address the youngsters saying this is the first time India is gaining respect all over the world. We must not let it go to vain rather gear up to reach greater heights by putting in more work hours. While many leaders like Bhavish Aggarwal- CEO of OlaCabs, and Sajjan Jindal- Chairman of JSW Group replied positively to this, Ashneer Grover- Former founder of BharatPe, Chirag Barjatya- CEO of PFC Club, and most netizens disagree with a standpoint of the sort. They believe in delivering and receiving quality work over quantity.
On a personal note, we think there are two sides to this standpoint of Murthy. One, this might boost our nation's work productivity no doubt but it’s also not feasible. Considering factors of commute, available resources, nickel like salary to name a few. It is near impossible to work 70 hours a week unless weekends are made into weekdays too. Cutting down family time, HRs can now proudly say work is family for what other family time is there left?
On the bright side, this might be fruitful for the setup of a coworking space. It’s going to revolutionize the coworking concept too. Up until now, coworking was just a space where different businesses cohesively build themselves and network with the community during work hours of the week. But what will happen when people are made to work 70 hours a week? That’s working every day of the week for 10 hours each, with no time for personal development whatsoever. Not with coworking being in the picture though.
Being a coworking community ourselves, we know what it’s like to be surrounded by a culture that’s both enthusiastic when it comes to work and playful otherwise. It’s all about being able to provide that flexibility where they can be themselves and not professionally correct at all times. It will be a revolution when coworking spaces start offering beds along with desks in order to achieve the said 70-hour criteria if it ever happens that is. Call it co-living in a sense.
Commuting alone takes a lot of time. Did you know it takes between 2.5 to 4 hours on average for an Indian to reach their workplace? On a weekly basis, nearly 17.4 to 28 hours are spent just traveling in transportation. Lucky are those who live close by. That’s when coworking steps in to save the day. Providing a space to work, sleep, eat, and repeat. And as far as family is concerned, we won't give you the chance of feeling nostalgic. That’s the kind of inclusiveness and apna apna sa lagta hai feeling that we shower you with.
70 work hours/week, A Look Into The Future Of Work?
Coming back to co-living, we call dibs on it if it becomes a start-up idea. Just kidding. It is a concept we happened to brainstorm over. We figured if and when people work 70 hours, they might as well develop healthy connections with the people around them for such long hours. We propose an idea, a vision, to convert coworking a notch ahead. Co-living is a place where people work and live together. Building a community that’s as close to home as possible. A place they can call their own.
Coworking spaces provide a community that is larger and more inclusive than just what work colleagues will provide. This is a significant advantage when one is supposed to be working for 70 hours. It becomes important that festivals are celebrated, conveniences like refreshments, nutritious food, security, housekeeping, and maintenance are taken care of so that time is saved and avenues for leisure are also provided such as yoga, meditation, painting and other art/ craft workshops.
We at OurDesk already do most of the above and plan to increase our scope of services as we progress through the next year. So if you’re looking for a place that’s exceptionally balanced with work and play, we’re just the right fit. The doors of OurDesk are always open, drop by anytime.
In conclusion, what are your views regarding this? Should there be a 70-hour work week? Will it help increase work productivity or turn humans into factory machines? Devoid of any creativity and personal time for any side projects or hustles, to follow their dream? We leave you with this food for thought.
About OurDesk
OurDesk - A brand new 52-seater coworking space/reading room is now OPEN FOR BUSINESS! Located in Khar West, OurDesk is just a short walk from Khar railway station (300m) & near SV Road (75m). High-speed internet, ergonomic furniture & abundant natural light are on the house! We also have an on-site pantry & separate toilets for men/ women on the same floor. Flexible membership plans are offered to solopreneurs, freelancers, entrepreneurs, management consultants, chartered accountants, marketing agencies, small businesses, startups, and professionals seeking shared office space or a flexible workspace for remote work.
OurDesk is more than just a coworking space; we are an initiative of Mataji Rampiyari Bai Trust, a registered not-for-profit organization with a rich history of assisting members of the community for over 50+ years. Our commitment to fostering collaboration, innovation, and growth in the business community is driven by our longstanding mission to empower professionals like you. By choosing OurDesk, you not only gain access to a dynamic workspace but also contribute to the meaningful initiatives and support provided by the trust. Together, let's positively impact the business world while uplifting our community. Join us on this journey of empowerment and transformation.
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Explore our modern office space in Khar West, Mumbai, conveniently situated near the Khar Train Station, offering location advantages for professionals seeking work-life balance in a community-driven space. Take advantage of our meeting rooms, hot desk options, dedicated desk setups, virtual office services, and business support offerings. Join us at OurDesk for networking events in a professional environment, and experience an affordable workspace designed to boost productivity and collaboration.
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