The Gauhati High Court has ruled that government employees who pursue higher studies without prior departmental permission may face disciplinary action, but their degrees remain valid if obtained from recognised universities. The case involved Mallika Devi, a teacher appointed in 1995 and regularised in 2001. In the 2021 gradation list of Post Graduate Teachers, she ranked higher than colleague Subhalakshmi Barooah. After the school’s Principal retired in January 2023, Devi claimed she was entitled to hold charge as the senior most qualified teacher. However, the Director of Secondary Education appointed Barooah, reasoning that only she had pursued her BEd. with…
Author: HRK News Bureau
Policybazaar has concluded the sixth edition of Jeeto Apna Ghar for its sales teams and the second for its services teams, marking the programme’s largest season to date. What started six years ago as a sales recognition initiative has grown into one of the company’s flagship employee reward platforms. After opening it to services employees last year, Policybazaar extended the same high-value rewards to teams supporting claims, customer service and post-purchase assistance. This season, 10 employees won homes and 10 won cars. Top performers also received significant performance-linked cash rewards, in addition to regular monthly incentives and bonuses. Since launch,…
The Code on Wages, one of India’s four labour codes, lays down uniform timelines for salary payments and strengthens employee protections by extending provisions on timely wage payments to all employees, irrespective of their salary levels. Under the Code, employers are required to pay monthly salaries before the seventh day of the following month. Employees paid on a weekly basis must receive their wages before the last working day of the week, while those paid fortnightly must be paid within two days after the end of the wage period. Daily-rated workers are entitled to receive their wages at the end…
A former Ford employee is preparing to sue the automaker and food services company Aramark after he was dismissed over allegations of stealing a $1.95 packet of cookies, despite later proving that the purchase had been successfully paid for. According to reports, Kurt Kromm, a 60-year-old electrician, worked at Ford’s Kentucky Truck Plant in Louisville for 11 years before being terminated over what was believed to be an unpaid purchase at a self-checkout kiosk. The incident occurred during an overnight shift in May when Kromm, who has diabetes, bought a packet of cookies after experiencing low blood sugar. He said…
Nearly 100 Google employees gathered at the company’s Mountain View campus to demand stronger job security. They delivered a petition signed by more than 4,500 employees seeking greater protection against layoffs. Organised by the Alphabet Workers Union (AWU), the demonstration saw employees wearing matching T-shirts and holding placards calling for improved employment safeguards. The union described the petition as the largest single piece of employee feedback the company has received on the issue of job security. Addressed to Google CEO Sundar Pichai and other senior executives, the petition calls for guaranteed severance packages, voluntary exit options before any involuntary layoffs,…
Procol, an Agentic AI platform for procurement and finance, has appointed Shaivya Gupta as its new chief marketing officer. In the role, Gupta will oversee Procol’s global marketing, brand strategy, and communications. His mandate is to sharpen the company’s market positioning, establish it as a category leader in AI-powered procurement, and accelerate entry into priority international markets, with the United States as a key focus. The appointment comes as Procol enters what it calls its next growth phase. The company has grown 5x in the past two years and now aims for 300% growth over the next 12 months.…
The listing of SBI Funds Management has created substantial wealth for several employees, with at least 13 executives holding equity stakes worth more than Rs 1 crore through the company’s employee stock ownership plan (ESOP). The asset-management company made a strong stock market debut, listing at a premium of over six per cent to its issue price of Rs 574 per share. The stock opened at Rs 610 on the BSE and Rs 613.30 on the NSE, boosting the value of employee shareholdings accumulated over the years. Devinder Pal Singh, deputy managing director, emerged as the biggest beneficiary, with vested…
A Nashik sessions court has granted bail to a senior Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) employee who was arrested as a co-accused in a sexual- harassment case registered earlier this year at Mumbai Naka police station. The employee, who was arrested from her residence in Pune on 10 April, is among three individuals named in the case. The FIR was registered under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including Sections 75 (sexual harassment), 78 (stalking), 79 (insulting the modesty of a woman) and 49 (abetment), among other charges. Additional Sessions Judge AV Kharkar granted bail on a personal bond of…
Pidilite Industries has appointed Suresh Kumar C as its chief human resource officer (CHRO) and senior management personnel, effective 21 July, 2026. As CHRO, Kumar will now lead Pidilite’s overall people strategy, overseeing talent management, leadership development, organisational effectiveness, workforce planning, and culture as the company continues to strengthen its leadership pipeline and support long-term growth. The appointment comes as Ashish Prasad, current CHRO, transitions into the role of chief business officer – strategic initiatives. A Pidilite veteran with over 33 years at the company, Kumar was previously serving as co-chief human resource officer. Throughout his long association with the…
Hyundai Motor Company has clarified that it remains committed to constructive engagement with the employees’ union and to reaching an agreement that supports the long-term interests of both employees and the company. The company was in the news recently when its main car plant in Ulsan, South Korea, had reportedly seen a partial shutdown after thousands of unionised workers began striking. The dispute, it was reported at the time, was more about the company’s plans to introduce humanoid robots into its factories than about pay cuts or production targets. However, Hyundai Motors enunciates that the union’s current demands include compensation-related…
Accenture has named Pradeep Prabhala as the new head for its India market unit, with the role taking effect 1 September, 2026. The appointment highlights Accenture’s focus on strengthening leadership in India, one of its largest growth markets, and on scaling capabilities that help clients drive value through data and AI. In his new position, Prabhala will partner with Indian clients to leverage AI and data for faster growth, higher productivity, and more agile business models. He will also work with multinational companies to expand and strengthen their Global Capability Centres in India, positioning them as hubs for innovation, transformation,…
The 8th Central Pay Commission is nearing the halfway point of its 18-month tenure as it continues consultations with stakeholders across the country. Having completed visits to Kolkata and Bhubaneswar in July, the Commission is expected to hold further discussions in other states before finalising its recommendations. Constituted on 3 November, 2025, the Commission is tasked with reviewing pay, allowances and pension-related benefits for Central government employees and pensioners. One of the key issues under discussion is the future of the government’s pension framework. While employee and pensioner unions continue to press for the restoration of the Old Pension Scheme…
ASML, the world’s largest manufacturer of semiconductor chipmaking equipment, is planning to introduce a retention incentive worth €20,000 for eligible employees who remain with the company between 2027 and 2030. The Dutch technology company confirmed the initiative after local media reported the development. According to the company, the incentive will be offered as a conditional stock grant beginning 1 January, 2027, although the final terms of the programme are still being worked out. The move is aimed at strengthening employee retention at a time when the global semiconductor industry continues to face intense competition for skilled talent. Several major chipmakers,…
Latent View Analytics, an AI-driven analytics and data engineering company, announced Sonal Ramrakhiani as its new chief executive officer, effective July 15, 2026. Till recently, Sonal Ramrakhiani was responsible for Wipro Engineering Edge in America. As a Tata Administrative Officer (TAS officer), she has also held senior leadership positions across the Tata Group, including COO and president – sales (automotive) at Tata Technologies. From her base in the United States, she will focus on scaling LatentView’s footprint in America and Europe and accelerating the company’s AI-first roadmap to help enterprises turn data into business outcomes. Outgoing CEO Rajan Sethuraman, who…
Amazon is reportedly facing a lawsuit in the US after a former employee alleged that the company violated the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) by terminating his employment despite approving his leave to care for his wife. The complaint, filed in the US District Court for the Northern District of Indiana, claims the employee was granted intermittent FMLA leave in February 2026. The approval initially allowed him to take up to two days of leave each month, which was later increased to four days, along with up to two hours of delayed reporting time per day when required. The…
Intel is preparing another round of job cuts, this time in its Data Centre Group (DCG), as the chipmaker continues a multi-year restructuring aimed at improving efficiency and sharpening its business focus. According to reports, employees in the data centre division have been informed that workforce reductions are expected. The company has not disclosed the number of roles that will be affected or the impact the latest cuts could have on its operations. Intel said the restructuring is intended to align the business with its long-term priorities by ensuring it has the right mix of skills and roles. The company…
A senior technology consultant has resigned from Deloitte after spending a decade with the firm, citing burnout, demanding work schedules and dissatisfaction with career progression and compensation. The Hyderabad-based professional, who was earning around Rs 35 lakh per annum, said he decided to move on after receiving a 5 per cent salary hike and missing out on a promotion. The consultant, who joined Deloitte as a fresher, said he had originally planned to build a long-term career with the organisation. The firm’s partnership model, opportunities to work on large client engagements, continuous learning and mentorship from senior leaders motivated him…
Hyper, a US-based digital infrastructure partner specialising in mission-critical data centre solutions, has appointed Vineet Gambhir as its chief human resources officer (CHRO). He joins the executive leadership team to lead the company’s global people strategy, talent development, organisational growth, culture, and employee experience as Hyper continues to scale. Gambhir brings over 30 years of global HR leadership experience across technology, healthcare, retail, and private equity-backed organisations. His expertise spans organisational transformation, talent strategy, leadership development, workforce planning, mergers and acquisitions, global expansion, organisational design, and culture building in high-growth, complex business environments. Prior to joining Hyper, Gambhir served as…
Tata Steel is set to make a Rs 10,000 crore investment in Jharkhand over the next three years, with the goal of creating 2,000 direct and indirect jobs by 2028. Announced on 20 July, 2026, in Ranchi, the investment forms part of the company’s strategy to raise India’s capacity to 40 MTPA from 27.35 MTPA today. The plan combines scale-up projects with a move to cleaner production methods. A major portion, Rs 7,000 crore, will go toward HIsarna and easy melting technology. HIsarna is Tata Steel’s proprietary low-emissions iron-making route that skips the need for coke ovens, sintering and pelletising.…
Triveni Turbine has appointed Shashwat K Mitra as its chief human resources officer (CHRO) designate, strengthening its leadership team as the company prepares for its next phase of growth. Mitra brings nearly two decades of experience in human resources, business transformation, talent management, organisational development, leadership development, HR strategy, sustainability, and corporate social responsibility. Alongside his corporate career, he also serves as an advisor, mentor, and guest faculty, working with startups, global capability centres, academic institutions, and business leaders across India and Australia. Prior to joining Triveni Turbine, Mitra served as vice president & global head-HR at KPIT for nearly…
The District Consumer Commission in Kangra, Himachal Pradesh, has held the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) responsible for poor service after it wrongly reduced an employee’s service period while calculating his pension-withdrawal benefit. According to LiveLaw.in, the case involved Abhinay Katoch, who worked as a clerk at DAV Public School from April 2024 to March 2025. His provident fund and pension contributions were regularly deducted and deposited with EPFO. His passbook showed total pension contributions of Rs 14,230. But when he applied for withdrawal, EPFO credited only Rs 12,750. The argument by EPFO was that the employee had a 16…
ICICI Bank reported the steepest decline in employee strength among India’s leading private sector banks in FY26, ending the financial year with a smaller workforce than it had a year earlier. The drop stood out as peers such as HDFC Bank and Axis Bank either maintained stable headcounts or continued to expand their employee base. The reduction in workforce has drawn attention as employee numbers are often viewed as an indicator of a bank’s growth strategy, branch expansion plans, technology adoption and cost management priorities. While a decline in headcount does not necessarily signal weaker business performance, it can reflect…
Odisha is preparing to roll out a comprehensive skilling roadmap to develop a workforce for the green hydrogen sector under the National Green Hydrogen Mission (NGHM). The initiative aims to equip job seekers and existing workers with the skills required to support the state’s growing clean energy ecosystem. The state’s Skill Development and Technical Education (SDTE) Department has initiated the process of formulating the roadmap. The Directorate of Skill Development-cum-Employment (DSDE) and the Odisha Skill Development Authority (OSDA) have been tasked with preparing a detailed implementation plan, which will be submitted to the Centre for approval. The proposed strategy will…
Texas Instruments India wrapped up the fifth edition of WiSH, its Women in Semiconductors and Hardware programme, reporting strong growth in student interest for semiconductor careers. Registrations for the 2026 cohort rose 33 per cent year-on-year to nearly 2,600 applications. Since launching five years ago, WiSH has mentored 685 women engineering students and supported more than 300 internship opportunities, helping build a pipeline for India’s expanding semiconductor and hardware sector. The programme pairs students with TI engineers, former WiSH participants, interns and early-career employees. Over several weeks, participants work on hands-on experiments, technical simulations, lab visits and engineering projects that…
A software company in Tokyo has built an unconventional workplace where cats are as much a part of the office as its employees. Qnote Inc., a Japanese software firm, has integrated 11 rescued cats into its headquarters, making them a permanent feature of its work culture and employee-wellbeing initiatives. The company’s pet-friendly journey began in 2004 when one of its founders brought a rescued stray kitten into the office. The cat soon became a familiar presence, creating a relaxed atmosphere that employees appreciated. Over the years, more rescued cats found a home at the workplace, gradually shaping a unique office…
Zoom Communications has announced that Carlos Quaderi will take on the role of head of Asia Pacific starting 1 August 2026, as the company doubles down on AI-led growth in the region. Based in Singapore, Quaderi will report to Graeme Geddes, chief sales and growth officer, and be responsible for Zoom’s go-to-market across Australia, New Zealand, Asia, India and Korea. Japan is not part of the remit. The leadership change comes at a time when APAC businesses are moving past point productivity tools toward AI-powered platforms that streamline workflows and turn discussions into outcomes faster. With 30+ years in tech,…