In a candid and thought-provoking conversation at a recent event in Bengaluru, Swiggy CEO Rohit Kapoor raised important questions about modern workplace culture and the harmful effects of overworking. Speaking from personal experience, Kapoor shared his concerns about employees spending excessive hours at work, while advocating for a healthier approach to professional life.
Kapoor, who had previously held a senior leadership position at OYO before joining Swiggy, recounted a time when he would consistently arrive at the office at 8 a.m., only to find it practically deserted. “I used to go to the office at 8 o’clock, and nobody would be there,” he said. “People would saunter in at 12-1 pm and then burn the midnight oil. Who asked you to work that late?”
His reflection comes as a striking critique of the increasingly popular “hustle culture,” where employees are encouraged to devote every waking moment to their jobs, often at the cost of their physical and mental well-being. Kapoor expressed his disdain for this culture, making it clear that long working hours should be the exception, not the norm.
A Glimpse into OYO’s Working Culture
Kapoor worked at OYO, a hospitality company known for its dynamic and often fast-paced work environment, for nearly four years before taking the reins at Swiggy. During his time there, he observed a pattern of employees arriving late in the day but staying in the office well into the early hours of the morning. “People would start trickling in later in the day, and some arrived as late as 1 p.m. They would then stay in the office till 3 a.m.,” Kapoor explained.
This pattern of late-night work, according to Kapoor, is far from efficient or healthy. He expressed a personal objection to the habit of overworking unnecessarily, emphasizing that professionals should not feel compelled to sacrifice their evenings for tasks that could just as easily be completed during normal working hours. “Go home, spend time with your family, girlfriend, dog… What will you achieve by working till late?” he asked.
A Balanced Approach to Hard Work
Although Kapoor is critical of excessive work hours, he was careful to clarify that his message should not be interpreted as an endorsement of laziness. He underscored the importance of hard work, stating, “Hard work is needed. I think we all work damn hard. I have worked damn hard all my life. Nothing has come easy to me ever.”
However, Kapoor was quick to point out that hard work should not come at the expense of one’s mental or physical health. He firmly believes that working long hours every day is not the path to success, stressing the importance of efficiency and time management. “It has not come at the cost of me going crazy,” he added, suggesting that it is possible to achieve professional success without burning out.
Calling Out Hustle Culture
One of Kapoor’s most powerful statements at the event was his outright rejection of hustle culture. “Hustle culture is bull****,” he declared, making it clear that the glorification of overworking is misguided. Kapoor’s comments strike a chord in an era where the line between professional life and personal life has become increasingly blurred, with many employees feeling pressure to constantly be “on” in order to succeed.
Kapoor challenged the notion that building a successful company—or even just a successful career—requires a complete surrender of one’s personal life. “You don’t need to hustle and work till 3 a.m. every day,” he said. “Some days you’ll need to, and you will. I don’t agree with the whole culture of ‘to build something great, you have to give everything up.'”
He continued by emphasizing the futility of hustling if it leads to poor health or burnout. “Hustling is meaningless if it leads to poor health and death,” Kapoor said, urging professionals to not only focus on their careers but also make time for their personal lives. For Kapoor, maintaining a balance between professional and personal life is essential for long-term success and well-being.
A Call for Smarter Work, Not Longer Hours
In his remarks, Kapoor advocated for a smarter, more strategic approach to work. His belief is that employees can—and should—work hard, but they should also work efficiently. Instead of staying in the office for 12 to 15 hours every day, Kapoor encouraged employees to focus on completing their tasks within reasonable hours, allowing them to leave the office and recharge their minds and bodies.
The key, according to Kapoor, is to prioritize quality over quantity. “Work damn hard, but don’t work crazy,” he advised. He highlighted that unnecessary long hours do not equate to productivity. In fact, Kapoor believes that overworking often leads to diminished output as employees become fatigued and lose their ability to focus effectively.
The Importance of a Healthy Work-Life Balance
Kapoor’s advocacy for work-life balance aligns with a growing movement in corporate culture that seeks to combat burnout and promote well-being. Numerous studies have shown that maintaining a balance between work and personal life leads to increased productivity, higher employee satisfaction, and better overall mental and physical health.
Kapoor stressed that work-life balance doesn’t mean avoiding hard work. Instead, it means knowing when to step away from the office, recharge, and return with renewed focus and energy. He encouraged employees to spend time with their families, significant others, pets, or simply doing activities that bring them joy outside of work. “What will you achieve by working till late?” he asked, driving home the point that long hours often come at the cost of one’s personal relationships and happiness.
A New Vision for Professional Success
Kapoor’s remarks challenge a deeply ingrained belief in many corporate environments: that success requires a relentless pursuit of work at the expense of everything else. By pushing back against this notion, Kapoor offers a new vision of professional success—one where hard work and personal well-being coexist.
In an industry often dominated by stories of founders and employees sacrificing everything for the sake of growth, Kapoor’s message stands out as a refreshing reminder that there is more to life than work. By fostering a culture that values both hard work and personal well-being, Kapoor hopes to inspire a new generation of professionals to build meaningful careers without losing sight of what truly matters.
In conclusion, Kapoor’s message is clear: success does not require endless hours at the office, nor does it demand that professionals give up their personal lives. By working smarter, managing time efficiently, and prioritizing balance, employees can achieve great things without sacrificing their health or happiness.