Giga ML CEO Varun Vummadi calls out lack of work ethic in India's tech sector

The CEO and co-founder of Giga ML, Varun Vummadi, said that many Indian programmers who make ₹1 crore or more are not willing to work extra hours, sparking a storm about work ethic in India's tech sector.

“I’ve noticed a pattern in hiring engineers for our Indian office. Even with a base salary of ₹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 on X.

An IIT Kharagpur alumnus, who leads an applied AI lab specializing in customer care automation, voiced his frustration over what he sees as a decline in work ethic among mid-level engineers in India.

His post quickly ignited a heated debate on work-life balance versus hustle culture.

Users on X were divided by Vummadi's remarks, with many arguing that it is unfair to ask workers to work six days a week, regardless of pay.

“You can’t buy cracked folks. They appreciate money but don’t worship it!” responded one user. Vummadi countered, “You can’t buy in SF, but you can in India. The majority of cracked engineers in India are heavily motivated by high salaries.”

Another user, Aman, pointed out that it’s normal for professionals in their mid-20s to early 30s to prefer a two-day weekend. “Weird way to phrase that a lot of 26-32-year-olds prefer having a weekend. Sounds pretty normal to me.”

Some users went further, accusing Vummadi of being the type of employer who prioritizes profit over employee well-being. “People are finally realizing the importance of prioritizing health above all else,” one user wrote.

The controversy comes amid ongoing debates about work-life balance in India’s corporate sector.

Recently, L&T Chairman A M Naik attracted attention for suggesting that employees should be willing to work on Sundays, a remark that also sparked backlash.

A user named Rishika Gupta offered a more practical perspective, questioning why Vummadi wasn’t considering an alternative: “Why not hire two engineers and expect reasonable working hours from both?”

Recently, India's Chief Economic Advisor V Anantha Nageswaran, has made a compelling plea to companies to increase wages, as consumption has sharply declined, particularly among the middle and lower-income segments of society.

The Economic Survey 2025 emphasizes that a safe, secure, and satisfactory workplace is crucial for long-term employee morale, while highlighting stagnant wages amid a 15-year high in corporate profitability.