WORK-WEEK WOES

AJUG OF WINE, a loaf of bread - and you beside me...wilderness were Paradise enow".

- KIRAN KARNIKI

This slightly rephrased poem from Omar Khayyam's Rubaiyat stands in contrast to “How long can you stare at your wife?” – the now famous quote from the CEO of a top Indian conglomerate. He was promoting work on Sundays, as part of advocating a 90-hour work-week, going one-up on the 70 hours recommended by a famous and respected technopreneur.

'WHAT DO YOU DO ON SUNDAYS?'

The CEO concerned was, he said, told by a Chinese gentleman that their workers put in 90 hours a week, whereas Americans only work 50 hours. He asserted that “If you have got to be on top of the world, you have to work 90 hours a week”. Our CEO says he works on Sundays, and would be happier if his employees did the same; after all “what do you do sitting at home (on Sundays) ... come on, get to the office and start working”, he exhorted.