Last Updated:
Elon Musk claims that officials at DOGE work for 120 hours a week, which means they either work 17-hour per day for seven days a week, or work 24 hours a day for five days, without any rest.
Elon Musk said that officials at DOGE work for 120 hours a week.
Narayana Murthy sparked the conversation around working hours, the L&T chairman took it up a notch, and now Elon Musk has entered the chat – pushing the envelope even further by advocating a gruelling 120-hour work week.
Musk, in a post on his platform X (formerly known as Twitter), claimed that the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which he leads, operates with a demanding 120-hour work week. According to Musk, this means officials are putting in 17-hour days, seven days a week, or working 24 hours a day 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,” wrote Musk in response to a post that thanked DOGE for ending years of mismanagement of public funds.
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
While some supported Musk, others criticised him for pushing employees to work 120 hours a week.
“120-hour weeks? That’s not a flex, it’s a red flag. Overworked devs make mistakes. Quality > quantity in crypto. DOGE might be digging its own grave,” wrote a social media user.
Another added, “120/7 = 17 hours and 8 minutes. DOGE is working 17 hours 8 minutes each day including Saturday and Sunday. This is crazy!”
“You sound like a terrible boss,” expressed a third.
“While working for fed gov, I learned that it’s illegal to work unauthorized overtime. Doing so obligates the government to pay, because slavery is illegal. So how are federal staff in DOGE legally putting in these hours? Multiple shifts?” questioned yet another social media user.
A fifth said, “Hard work yields results. Let’s go!”
“Hard work and accountability are finally exposing the corruption. No wonder they’re panicking. Decades of fraud being unraveled in real-time!” joined a sixth.
Another X user said, “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 working on plantation – you’re a field hand, no rights, no job security, no future. Musk will never tell you that. He’ll stand up there and lie his way to his only goal – to be the first trillionaire. He can only do it if you work yourself to death.”
