Pharma Companies Profit from 70-Hour Work Week, Says Shark Tank India’s Namita Thapar

Namita Thapar, the executive director of Emcure Pharmaceuticals and a judge on Shark Tank India, has expressed concerns about the idea of a 70-hour work week, emphasizing that such long hours are not ideal for employees. Thapar had previously pointed out that working for such extended periods would result in little to no time for family and could lead to poor mental health.

Namita Thapar, in her role at Emcure Pharmaceuticals, has criticized the culture of long working hours, suggesting that it primarily benefits pharmaceutical companies by generating a demand for medications to address the physical and mental health issues associated with prolonged workweeks. She argued that excessively long hours are not conducive to helping employees become the best versions of themselves and questioned how leaders and companies can enforce such demanding schedules.

This comment was part of a lighthearted exchange between Thapar and fellow Shark Tank India judge and owner of Shaadi.com, Anupam Mittal, who had recently implied that he had been working long hours for an extended period, possibly equivalent to 70 hours a week.

Namita Thapar’s remarks follow a broader debate sparked by Infosys founder Narayana Murthy’s advice to Indian youngsters to work 70-hour a week to increase the country’s overall productivity. Narayan Murthy had argued that India’s work productivity is among the lowest globally and that to compete with countries like China, Indian youth must put in extra hours, much like Japan and Germany did after World War II.

However, Thapar’s comments and those of other experts and medical professionals have highlighted the potential negative consequences of such a demanding work routine. They have pointed out that it could lead to cardiac issues, stress-related complications, lower quality work, and a deteriorating personal life.

Re-reported from the article originally published in The moneycontrol