A controversial proposal from a Bengaluru founder seeking employees to work approximately 80 hours per week, six days a week, has ignited a heated debate across social media platforms regarding Indian workplace culture. Despite facing backlash, the founder has elaborated on his reasoning, emphasizing the importance of putting in extensive hours during one’s twenties to build a strong career foundation.
The founder, identified as Umesh Kumar, advertised for a “full or intern stack engineer” for his company, Runable. The job posting specified that candidates for the onsite Bengaluru role must be willing to commit to 60-80 hour work weeks. Kumar clarified that he is not seeking beginners or developers who are merely “cracked” but rather individuals who are aligned with Runable’s mission to become the “General AI Agent For Every Task” and have no commitment issues.
Why the Demanding Work Schedule?
In an explanation to HT.com, Kumar stated, “I believe your 20s are the time to push your limits, learn fast, and build a strong foundation for your career.” He further added, “If someone isn’t willing to put in those 60–80 hours a week to grow during that phase, it feels unfair to later blame the government or companies for a lack of opportunities.”
Social Media’s Reaction
The founder’s stance has drawn mixed reactions online. One user commented, “80 hours doesn’t feel healthy, tbh. That’s like more than 12 hours per day?” Another suggested a more efficient approach: “Why not just hire someone really competent so they work 60 hours? 80 hours signals some low-efficiency work.” A third user expressed concern about the legality, stating, “6x days/week should be illegal wt*.” Kumar’s response to this was, “How many hours are you willing to work?” Another user cynically remarked, “Requirements? You should be exploitable and gullible.”
About Umesh Kumar
Umesh Kumar is the co-founder and CEO of Runable, a seven-month-old company. He holds a bachelor’s degree in computer science from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Roorkee.