Shaadi.com's Anupam Mittal makes Wednesdays WFH days after PM Modi's appeal

As Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged Indians to conserve fuel and consider working from home amid the worsening Gulf crisis and rising concerns over energy supplies, Anupam Mittal, founder and CEO of People Group and Shaadi.com, has acted immediately.

Mittal, in a post on X on May 13, announced that his company has implemented a mandatory one-day work-from-home policy every week for its roughly 500 employees.

The move came shortly after PM Modi appealed to citizens to cut down on unnecessary travel, conserve fuel and return to virtual meetings as the Iran-US tensions and disruptions around the Strait of Hormuz - one of the world’s most critical oil transit routes - continue to raise concerns over global energy supplies.

In his tweet, Mittal said he had never really thought about it before, but allowing 500 employees to work remotely for one day a week could save nearly 30,000 litres of petrol annually. Wednesdays, Mittal added, would now be work-from-home days.

See Anupam Mittal’s post here:

PM Modi’s message was part of a broader push for austerity measures amid the prolonged Gulf crisis. Along with encouraging reduced travel, Modi also urged people to avoid unnecessary foreign trips and discretionary spending such as gold purchases.

Meanwhile, Mittal’s announcement soon triggered a debate online around hybrid work culture and productivity. One user commented, “But the productivity will decrease. There's a reason offices are built. They are dedicated places for collaborating and working professionally.”

To this, Mittal replied, “Might actually work better. Mid-week break from commute.”

Another user asked whether hybrid work culture genuinely affects productivity or if opposition to it is simply an excuse used by large companies despite worsening traffic conditions in Indian cities.

Responding to the query, Mittal said, “I think it depends on the company and the context, but if there were ever a time in history to consider hybrid work, it is now.”

He added, “Eventually, I think most companies will operate remotely for two days a week during peacetime and perhaps return to working from office during periods of crisis or transformation.”

When another user asked if that meant he planned to extend work-from-home options to all employees, Mittal responded with a brief: “Done.”

PM Modi’s appeal also comes at a time when several countries are increasingly embracing work-from-home models and reduced work weeks as the prolonged Iran-US conflict continues to fuel uncertainty, with fears growing that Donald Trump’s recent moves may have further complicated efforts towards a possible peace agreement between Tehran and Washington.