Just when we thought the whole “work longer, work harder” debate had reached its peak with Narayana Murthy’s 70-hour workweek and L&T Chairman’s 90-hour workweek, Elon Musk swooped in and said, “Hold my Tesla.”
Elon Musk has set a new and dangerous benchmark – a 120-hour workweek.
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That’s right. In a post on his platform X, Elon Musk claimed that the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) in the US, which he leads, operates on a gruelling 120-hour workweek. For context, that’s 17-hour workdays for seven days straight. Or, if you prefer variety, a delightful 24-hour shift for five days.
DOGE is working 120 hour a week. Our bureaucratic opponents optimistically work 40 hours a week. That is why they are losing so fast. https://t.co/dXtrL5rj1K
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) February 2, 2025
Musk’s statement has reignited debates about work-life balance. While some argue that longer work hours boost productivity, others point out the minor detail that humans need sleep. If this trend continues, soon we’ll be hearing about a 200-hour workweek because apparently, nobody believes in weekends anymore.
Just be careful of your health. I did that for about 5 years to avoid layoffs and found my limit was reached and wound up with game changing autoimmune disorders. I consider myself *lucky (?)* because many of my co-workers died of heart attacks. It’s important to have down time…
— Unknown Sailor (@_UnknownSailor) February 2, 2025
I like Musk a lot but I don’t think anyone should work 120 hours a week. I know it’s a hyperbole but I don’t’ think it’s a good one. People should work to live and not live to work.
— The Lone Moderate (@DaLoneModerate) February 2, 2025
How does a 120 hour week sit with their families?
No time for the kids, partners and love making… 👶
I thought you lot were ardent supporters of the family unit?— TwoDogs ∞ 🦋 (@Steph2Dogs) February 2, 2025
Who wants to work 120 hours a week. Team has no life, no work life balance. And just reducing bottom line by firing everyone and calling every federal worker a fraud. So is it DOGE against federal workers now?
Im a supporter, but this ain’t it
— Chops 🥢 (@CH0PS_15) February 2, 2025
The worse aspect of the tech industry is overworking people, while paying them low wages, then firing them in droves. The only people who benefit are the bosses. Money in America flows only one way—toward the pockets of the super-elite. Working in the technology industry is…
— Enemies List (@human_xxoo) February 2, 2025
If they’re working 120 hours a week they’re not well-managed not particularly capable
Employees with good skills and good management should be able to be much more productive than DOGE has been on 40 hours a week.
Just a sign of the low productivity per hour of many US workers.
— Anteros (@AnterosHyperion) February 3, 2025
For now, all we can do is sit back, watch the chaos unfold, and be thankful that our bosses haven’t read this yet.