NEW DELHI: IIT-Kharagpur alumnus Varun Vummadi, CEO of the US-based tech company Giga ML, ignited a debate on work ethic and work-life balance in the tech industry after he claimed in a post on X that many Indian engineers are unwilling to work hard despite being offered high salaries.
“I’ve noticed a pattern in hiring engineers for our Indian office. Even with a base salary of Rs 1 crore, many are unwilling to work hard. A significant number of engineers with 3–8 years of experience are reluctant to work six days a week,” Vummadi wrote in a post.
Vummadi expressed frustration over the attitude of engineers in India, particularly those in the early and mid-stages of their careers. He later doubled down on his stance, referencing his own family’s work ethic. He added, “My dad and mom are government teachers. They still work 6 days a week. 6*8 hrs for a Rs 1 crore base salary, which is significantly above benchmark for 3-8 year experienced people, is extremely fair.”
He further added, “So work-life balance is what cuts it for attention and press in Indian crowd. People who are willing to work hard—hope they don’t get eaten up by this virus. Many successful startups did 6 or 7 days a week. @elonmusk is a living example of where you can be if you work hard.”
His comments triggered mixed reactions online. While some agreed with his observations, others pointed out that productivity does not necessarily correlate with longer working hours. Many argued that sustainable productivity and mental well-being should not be compromised for financial incentives.
“Work ethic isn’t just about hours—it’s about impact. If talented engineers are hesitating despite a Rs1 crore base salary, it might be worth considering whether expectations align with modern work culture. Sustainable productivity often beats sheer hours,” one user commented.
Another user pushed back against the notion of overworking for money, saying, “You can’t buy cracked folks. They appreciate money, don’t worship it!”
