Mr. S.N. Subrahmanyan, Chairman and Managing Director of Larsen & Toubro (L&T), witnessed a significant 49% rise in his remuneration for the financial year 2024–25 (FY25), reaching Rs. 76.25 crore—up from Rs. 51.05 crore in the previous fiscal year. This sharp increase was largely attributed to the exercise of employee stock options (ESOPs), valued at Rs. 15.88 crore for the year. In comparison, Mr. Subrahmanyan did not exercise any ESOPs in FY24.
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The figures were disclosed in the engineering and infrastructure major’s recently released annual report.
Other Top Executives Also See High Earnings
Alongside Mr. Subrahmanyan, other senior leaders of the company also drew substantial remuneration packages. Mr. R. Shankar Raman, the Whole-time Director and Chief Financial Officer, earned Rs. 37.33 crore in FY25. Meanwhile, Mr. Subramanian Sarma, Deputy Managing Director and President of L&T’s infrastructure segment, earned Rs. 44.55 crore during the same period.
Controversy Over 90-Hour Workweek Remarks
Earlier this year, Mr. Subrahmanyan attracted nationwide criticism following his comments during an internal employee interaction where he advocated for a 90-hour workweek and suggested that employees should consider working on Sundays to achieve “extraordinary outcomes.” He even questioned what employees “actually do at home,” which triggered a wave of backlash on social media platforms.
In the wake of the controversy, Larsen & Toubro issued a public clarification, stating that Mr. Subrahmanyan’s comments were aimed at emphasizing the importance of putting in extraordinary efforts to accomplish exceptional results, and were not meant to compel employees into longer work hours.
Company Stands by Performance-Focused Culture
Despite the criticism, L&T reiterated its commitment to a culture that rewards hard work and results. The company maintained that its leadership remains focused on driving performance while respecting employee well-being.
Mr. Subrahmanyan’s remuneration hike and remarks have ignited debates on corporate work culture, executive compensation, and work-life balance—topics increasingly under scrutiny in India’s evolving corporate landscape.
