Shantanu Deshpande, the founder and CEO of the Bombay Shaving Company, has drawn the ire of the internet for suggesting that new hires work 18 hours a day rather than attempting to strike a work-life balance.
Deshpande recommended young people to work 18 hours a day in a LinkedIn article published this morning. He claimed that the first four or five years after finding job should be spent maintaining this commitment.
“Put your all into it when you’re 22 and new to your work. Maintain a healthy diet and physical fitness, but work 18-hour days for at least 4-5 years, advised Shantanu Deshpande.
He added, “I see a LOT of kids who watch odd stuff everywhere and convince themselves that ‘work life balance, spending time with family, rejuvenation bla bla’ is necessary. “Yes, but not quite yet.
That early, praise your creation… Don’t play rona-dhona at random. Be persistent and take it in stride. The CEO of Bombay Shaving Company continued, “You will be much better for it.
Deshpande’s unconventional attitude put him in the spotlight at a time when balancing personal and professional obligations is a hot issue on social media. His LinkedIn article was published at a time when “silent quitting” has gained popularity all around the world. In order to “fight back against what some regard as the stifling trap of continual connectedness,” according to AFP, workers who engage in the practise refuse to work overtime, take calls after work hours, and generally perform the absolute minimum tasks necessary at their professions.
Deshpande provided an explanation in response to a flurry of criticism. He said that his order to work 18 hours per day was not to be taken literally.
On LinkedIn, he stated, “It’s a euphemism for ‘give your all and then extra’.”
A significant portion of the internet felt that pushing newcomers and young people to put their personal lives on hold in order to further their careers amounted to unethical business tactics, and the explanation did little to appease them.
“With all due respect, Mr. Founder and CEO. How much truly is enough for individuals like you when you say ‘give your all and then some’? 18 hours and 6 minutes remain? Is that it? What role does the rest play? In the six or the eighteen hours? Do you need to be reminded that an adult needs at least seven uninterrupted hours of sleep in order to function well during the day? Someone left a comment.
On Twitter, where screenshots of Deshpande’s tweet have been going around, there were similar responses.
When asked about the corporate culture after criticising the CEO for his view on professionalism, Deshpande responded, “For those asking about culture at BSC, feel free to come any time or talk to any of our workers.”
