Alert comes despite co-founder's controversial 70-hour workweek remarks
The company co-founded by an executive who advocated for a 70-hour workweek is reportedly warning employees against working more than nine hours in a bid to maintain work-life balance, according to reports.
Infosys, India's second-largest IT services company, is implementing an automated system that alerts staff who are working for more than nine hours and 15 minutes a day, The Economic Times reported.
"While we appreciate your commitment, we also believe that maintaining a healthy work-life balance is crucial for both your well-being and long-term professional success," the company's communication said, as quoted by the news outlet.
The communication also comes with reminders from the company's HR on the company's remote working days, total hours logged, as well as daily averages.
The automated system has been implemented after the company adopted hybrid work arrangements for its 323,500 employees, who are mandated to report onsite at least 10 days per month, according to The Economic Times.
The HR warning over extended working hours comes after Infosys' co-founder and former CEO Narayana Murthy called on India's youth to work 70 hours a week in 2023.
"My request is that our youngsters must say: 'This is my country. I want to work 70 hours a week,'" Murthy previously said.
His controversial remarks drew flak from the public, but the Infosys co-founder remained firm on his outlook in a summit held last year.
"I am sorry I have not changed my view. I will take this with me to my grave. I'm very proud of having worked very hard," he said.
Murthy also shared that he was "very proud" of working 14 hours and 10 minutes for six-and-a-half days.
"I don't believe in work-life balance," he added. "Frankly, I was a little bit disappointed in 1986 or something when we moved from a six-day week to a five-day week. I was not very happy with that."
The Infosys co-founder's remarks come amid Indians' growing preference for work-life balance.
Findings from the Upskilling Trends Report 2025–26 by Great Learning showed that 82% of professionals in India now prioritise work-life balance alongside financial compensation, The Times of India reported.