Capgemini CEO Advocates Work-Life Balance with 47-Hour Week and No Weekend Emails
In a significant departure from the trend of longer working hours promoted by some industry leaders, Capgemini CEO Ashwin Yardi has called for a 47-hour workweek and a strict policy against sending work emails on weekends. Speaking at the Nasscom Technology and Leadership Forum, Yardi emphasized that prioritizing employee well-being should be central to corporate policies.
In a significant departure from the trend of longer working hours promoted by some industry leaders, Capgemini CEO Ashwin Yardi has called for a 47-hour workweek and a strict policy against sending work emails on weekends. Speaking at the Nasscom Technology and Leadership Forum, Yardi emphasized that prioritizing employee well-being should be central to corporate policies.
During his address, Yardi stated, “Forty-seven and a half hours. We have about nine hours a day and five days a week,” underscoring his belief that the typical workweek should be trimmed down to enhance productivity and reduce burnout. He further noted that, over the last four years, his guiding principle has been to avoid sending emails on weekends unless an issue can genuinely be resolved during that time.
“There’s no point in ‘giving grief’ to employees over the weekend, knowing that work cannot be effectively done during those days,” Yardi added. While he admitted to occasionally working on weekends, he made it clear that such practices are not expected of his employees.
Yardi’s approach marks a stark contrast to the recent comments from other top industry executives. Infosys co-founder NR Narayana Murthy has previously advocated for a 70-hour workweek, while Larsen & Toubro Chairman SN Subrahmanyan pushed for an even more strenuous 90-hour workweek—positions that have sparked widespread criticism amid growing debates over work-life balance.
Yardi also highlighted several initiatives at Capgemini aimed at nurturing a supportive work environment, including quarterly promotion cycles, six-week employee surveys, and clearly defined career paths. He stressed the importance of aligning organizational practices with the expectations of younger IT professionals, who value flexibility and personal time.
Industry voices at the forum echoed similar sentiments. Nasscom Chairperson Sindhu Gangadharan, who leads SAP India, emphasized that results are more important than the number of hours worked. Marico CEO Saugata Gupta concurred, though he humorously admitted to occasionally sending emails as late as 11 PM.
As the debate over optimal work hours continues, Yardi’s stance serves as a reminder of the need for balanced work practices that prioritize employee health and productivity over sheer hours logged at the office.
Sources By Agencies
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