Bengaluru | Business & Tech Desk | July 2025

In a significant departure from the highly debated 70-hour workweek proposed by its co-founder Narayana Murthy, Infosys, one of India’s leading IT services firms, is now steering its workforce toward a more humane, balanced, and sustainable work culture. The move comes amid growing awareness of mental health, employee retention, and workplace sustainability in India’s tech industry.

🔥 The 70-Hour Week That Sparked a Firestorm

Back in 2023, Infosys founder Narayana Murthy suggested that young Indians should voluntarily work 70 hours per week to accelerate India’s development. While his intentions were rooted in boosting national productivity 🇮🇳🚀, the suggestion drew sharp backlash across social media and within HR circles for being tone-deaf to health concerns, especially in the high-pressure IT sector.

Employees and critics alike highlighted:

• ⏳ Unrealistic expectations

• 🧠 Risk of stress and burnout

• 💔 Declining personal well-being

• ❌ Violation of global HR standards

🏢 Infosys’s Pivot: A New Era of Workforce Management

Fast forward to 2025, Infosys has not only distanced itself from that narrative but actively implemented a monitoring system that flags overwork—especially among employees working remotely.

📋 New Policy Components

🔁 Hybrid Work Structure

• Employees must attend the office at least 10 days per month

• Remaining days can be remote or hybrid based on team coordination

• This policy balances in-person collaboration with flexibility [1][8]

⏱️ Intelligent Work-Hour Monitoring

• Using internal tools, Infosys records log-in and log-out times

• Flags employees who routinely exceed 9.15 hours per day

• Personalized emails are sent to discourage habitual overworking [2][3][4]

💌 “Mind Your Health” Campaign

• Employees receive notifications showing:

  • 📆 Number of remote days

  • 🕰️ Total hours worked

  • 📊 Daily average

• The messages are gentle reminders, not disciplinary actions—emphasizing wellness [3][5]

💬 HR and Leadership Speak Out

An Infosys HR manager, on condition of anonymity, noted:

“We realized that many employees were silently working extra hours at home without reporting fatigue. This policy is not about micromanagement—it’s about ensuring people don’t harm themselves trying to meet unrealistic targets.”

The leadership believes that overworking doesn’t always mean higher productivity—often it leads to rework, errors, and attrition.

🏃 Why the Shift Now?

A variety of trends have influenced this cultural shift:

🌐 Global Trends:

• Tech giants like Google and Microsoft now offer unlimited PTO and mental health days

• The “Great Resignation” and quiet quitting trend forced employers to rethink burnout-prone cultures

🇮🇳 Domestic Factors:

• India’s tech industry has one of the youngest workforces, and also the most overworked, with studies showing a spike in:

  • 📈 Anxiety disorders

  • 💔 Cardiac risks in professionals under 40

  • 💤 Sleep deprivation and eye strain

💼 Industry Reactions: Mixed But Evolving

Infosys’s approach stands in contrast to rival firms who:

• Link in-office attendance to variable pay

• Enforce strict badge swipes to track movement

• Penalize those preferring remote work

While some mid-level managers initially resisted this culture change, fearing a dip in performance, many have since acknowledged that happier teams are more focused and loyal.

👨‍💼 One employee commented:

“Earlier, I felt guilty logging out after 9 hours. Now, my manager encourages breaks and checks in on my mental load. It’s a refreshing shift.”

📈 The Bigger Picture: A Culture of Care

Infosys is not just reducing hours—it’s redefining success metrics. The company now values:

• 📊 Efficiency over time spent

• 🧠 Mental clarity over late-night hustle

• 🤝 Collaboration over constant availability

Additionally, they’ve rolled out:

• 🧘‍♀️ Yoga and meditation sessions

• 🗓️ Mandatory digital detox days

• 💼 Manager training to detect early signs of burnout

✅ Conclusion: Infosys’s New Chapter

As work culture globally evolves, Infosys is aligning with progressive standards—proving that employee well-being isn’t a luxury, but a business imperative. Its message is simple: You don’t have to burn out to contribute.

From the glorification of 70-hour weeks to protecting personal time, Infosys has come full circle—leading India’s IT industry into a more balanced, people-centric future. 🌱💼