No Work-Life Balance in Startups”: Naukri.com Chairman Supports Narayana Murthy

Sanjeev Bikhchandani, chairman of Naukri.com, has voiced support for Infosys founder NR Narayana Murthy’s proposal of a 70-hour work week to enhance India’s overall work productivity

Bikhchandani emphasized that to succeed in India, one has to put in the hours and achieve a level of work-life integration, especially during the initial years as a startup founder.

“Ek kamyab entrepreneur dikha do [show me one successful entrepreneur] who in the first 5-10 years did not have this work ethic and succeeded. It doesn’t happen. So, nobody is saying work 70 hours by the clock, but you may have to,” he added. Bikhchandani shared insights from his own career, highlighting the dedication and extra effort he put in during the initial phase.

Reflecting on the early years of his career, Bikhchandani recalled working extra hours, stating, “My first three years in advertising — it was technically a 5-day week – 9:15 to 5:45. But, I used to be in the office till 8:30. I went the extra mile. I didn’t take a single day’s leave. I worked all Saturdays, maybe Sundays, for 3 years.”

Bikhchandani also discussed the practice of working late shifts to access company amenities, emphasizing the enthusiasm and dedication needed in the startup journey. Narayana Murthy’s focus on productivity rather than specific working hours was also reiterated in the context of achieving success in the entrepreneurial landscape.