Runable CEO Faces Backlash Over 80-Hour Workweek Requirement for Interns

Runable CEO Umesh Kumar clarified that he was not looking for beginners.

Runable CEO Umesh Kumar has sparked significant controversy on social media with his recent job posting that expects interns to work approximately 80 hours weekly.

The Bengaluru-based AI startup, which describes itself as developing the "general AI Agent for every task," is currently recruiting engineering interns for on-site positions. Kumar shared the listing on X, outlining his specific requirements.

He specified that the position requires physical presence in Bengaluru, with candidates expected to work six days weekly and commit to 60-80 hours if necessary. He further stipulated that applicants should be proficient in JavaScript (JS), TypeScript (TS), and large language models (LLMs) – essentially individuals who are highly skilled in these areas.

Kumar emphasized that he wasn't seeking beginners or necessarily exceptional developers, though he noted that exceptional talent would be welcomed. He stated that Runable was searching for candidates who genuinely believed in the company's mission and had "no commitment issues."

The post quickly went viral, attracting numerous critical responses. One X user commented, "Requirements? You should be exploitable and gullible." Another questioned, "Why not just hire someone really competent so they just work 60 hours? 80 hours signals some low efficiency work."

Someone else pointed out the health implications: "80 hrs doesn't feel healthy tbh. That's like more than 12 hours per day?"

One commenter drew parallels to another tech industry figure by asking, "Are you Narayana Murthy?"

This reference recalls the 2023 controversy when Infosys co-founder Narayana Murthy triggered a nationwide work culture debate by encouraging young professionals to work at minimum 70 hours weekly. Murthy argued that such dedication was necessary for India to become globally competitive, often referencing his own extended workdays during Infosys's early development.

Critics condemned Murthy's perspective, arguing that it glorified "hustle culture" and promoted unsustainable work practices that risked burnout and gender inequality.

In a similar incident earlier this year, Larsen & Toubro (L&T) chairman S N Subrahmanyan faced criticism for suggesting employees should work up to 90 hours weekly, including Sundays. He controversially stated, "What do you do sitting at home? How long can you stare at your wife? Go to the office and start working."