A recent study shows that additional rise of 1°C in temperature will lead to a reduction in the work hours of approximately 800 million people living in tropical regions. The research focused on assessing the impact of global warming on the well-being of outdoor workers in the tropics. The study conducted by the Cell Press journal One Earth earlier this month, noted that a significant portion of the working-age population in tropical countries is engaged in outdoor occupations. These occupations include construction, agriculture, fisheries and forestry. It highlighted that with a further 1°C of warming, around 800 million individuals in…
Author: HRK News Bureau
Omega Seiki Mobility, a provider of electric vehicles and clean energy solutions, has appointed Nitin Khindria as the head-human resources. In the new role, Khindria will take charge of the HR department, driving the formulation and execution of HR policies and procedures. His primary objective will be to cultivate a workplace environment that is not only positive but also inclusive for all employees. Bringing with him over two decades of HR expertise, Khindria, an alumnus of the XLRI Jamshedpur, has previously held leadership positions at companies such as Balaji Action Buildwell Action Tesa, Nahar Industrial Enterprises, International Tractors, Mahindra &…
Vishal Nagda has joined Gera Developments as chief people officer. A human resource professional with over two decades of experience, Nagda is the founder and moderator of H.R. Professionals Group on LinkedIn. He moves to Gera from Global Insurance Brokers, where he was vice president –human resources for over two years. Having studied human resource management and finance management from Symbiosis Centre for Distance Learning, this alumnus of the University of Mumbai, began his professional journey with Wipro BPO as a technical support association, operations, in 2003. When he moved on from Wipro in 2008, he had reached the position…
Tata Consultancy Services is likely to grant an increment of seven to eight per cent to its offsite employees, while the onsite staff can expect two to four per cent hike in FY2024-25. The hike will come into effect on 1 April 2024, as reported by Business Standard. Though there has been no official announcement by the company, the process of giving increments has almost been completed, as per media reports. Based on performance, the hike could even go up to 12 per cent for some from TCS’ 6.03lakh strong workforce. In FY24, TCS had granted six to nine per…
The Ministry of Manpower (MOM), Singapore has modified the foreign worker policy. As per the modifications, the minimum qualifying salary for foreign workers to become eligible for Employment Pass or EP has been increased from $5,000 to $5,600 per month. It is this EP that allows professionals from outside Singapore to work in Singapore. This modification will come into effect from 1 January 2025. Applications renewed from 1 January 2026 will also have to follow the same revised norms. This qualifying salary will continue to increase as the individual ages, and go up to $10,700 for those in the mid-40s.…
The workers at Airbus’ Mirabel manufacturing plant near Montreal refuse to accept the offer made by their employer. The five-year contract of the workers, who work on building A220 jets, expired in December 2023. They have been demanding a wage hike along with better insurance coverage, flexible work hours and pension benefits. However, Airbus offered them a 10.25 per cent increment spread over a three-year contract. The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, which represents 1,300 workers from the plant did not accept the hike. Over 82 per cent of the members of the union said ‘no’ to the…
The Indian Hotels Company (IHCL), India’s leading hospitality group, is on track to meet its ambitious target of training 100,000 youths for the industry by 2030. This initiative aligns with Paathya, IHCL’s framework for driving social impact alongside business sustainability. IHCL operates 32 skill centres across 15 Indian states, partnering with governments, educational institutions, and private entities. These partnerships leverage IHCL’s industry expertise to design training content, develop faculty, and provide on-the-job experience. The model prioritises skilling underprivileged youth from socially and economically disadvantaged communities, with a focus on tribal groups. “Guided by our founder Jamsetji Tata’s vision of building…
Synchrony has rolled out 25 electric vehicles (EVs) tailored for employee commuting. These eco-conscious vehicles will be easily accessible to all Synchrony employees, presenting a convenient and environmentally-friendly commuting option. By embracing electric vehicles, Synchrony aims to significantly slash its carbon footprint. With the introduction of these EVs, it is projected that CO2 emissions will drip by an estimated 405 tons per month. This will not only benefit the environment but also the employees. Furthermore, integrating these new EVs will help the company make a significant stride toward a more sustainable and cleaner future. The incorporation of the EV fleet…
Talent tango: Fresh faces, sharp skills, or tech triumph? HR’s 2024 balancing act In 2024, organisations will continue to prioritise building an employee-centric workplace, recognising its significance for heightened productivity, innovation, and sustained success. Organisations will particularly focus on: Flexibility: It has become a standard employee expectation but the manifestation of flexibility may vary across sectors based on their unique needs. Inclusivity and purpose: Employees seek organisations with a broader purpose beyond financial success. Concepts such as diversity and inclusion (D&I), corporate social responsibility (CSR), and environmental, social, and governance (ESG), will play a dominant role in shaping the new…
Indian Oil Corporation has elevated Rashmi Govil as its new director-human resources, effective immediately. With an extensive career spanning over three decades in the industry, Govil embarked on her journey with the petroleum refinery giant in 1994, assuming the role of deputy manager-employee relations. She held the role for close to 13 years, and was based out of Mathura, Uttar Pradesh. Since then, she has ascended various leadership positions, demonstrating her abilities and commitment. In the year 2007, she was promoted to the general manager role for the divisional headquarters in New Delhi. In 2017, she became the chief general…
Fresh reports indicate that International Business Machines Corp. (IBM) has initiated layoffs within its workforce. Refraining from disclosing the precise number of job reductions, the company is said to have implemented workforce reductions within its marketing and communications division. Jonathan Adashek, chief communications officer, IBM, reportedly communicated the decision during a brief seven-minute meeting with department employees. The company is yet to confirm the same. These actions coincide with previous statements by Arvind Krishna, CEO, IBM, who indicated last year that IBM intends to halt hiring for roles that could be automated by artificial intelligence (AI) in the near future.…
SpaceX imposes unusual terms on its employees regarding stock awards, as reported by TechCrunch. Among these terms is a provision allowing SpaceX to repurchase vested shares within six months after an employee leaves the company for any reason. The company reportedly reserves the right to prohibit past and present employees from participating in tender offers under certain conditions, such as if they are accused of dishonesty or policy violations. The report further suggests that employees may not be fully aware of these conditions when initially signing up for the equity compensation-management platform. This lack of transparency can have significant implications…
The Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) has disbursed Rs 84 crores to settle outstanding dues of its staff. The announcement made on Saturday, 17 March, indicated that all unpaid dues including dearness allowance arrears, leave encashment and gratuity will be covered. The move came under the directives of Karnataka Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy. It is reported that an allocation of Rs 24 crore has been made for leave encashment for the fiscal year 2022-23, covering both current and retired employees. Likewise, Rs 54 crore has been allocated for dearness allowance (DA) payments spanning from July to November 2022 (five…
Dell, a renowned laptop brand, has ignited controversy with its recent pronouncement concerning promotions for remote workers. The company informed its remote workforce that while they can persist in working from home, they will not be eligible for promotions. Notably, Dell had embraced a hybrid work culture long before the advent of Covid-19. This policy has been in place for over a decade. However, the company is now enforcing stringent return-to-office (RTO) protocols, marking a distinct departure from its previous stance. Moreover, 10-15 per cent of its workforce had been working remotely. In a memo circulated in February, as reported…
After inaugurating new offices in Hyderabad, Kolkata and Pune in India, InvestoXpert, the real-estate comprehensive solutions provider, is gearing to expand its workforce. It plans to hire 600 new employees in India, in the fiscal year 2024-25. InvestoXpert, is seeking talented customer relationship managers (CRM), sales and business-development managers as well as talented candidates to fill other positions. The company is trying to build a diverse and dynamic team capable of driving growth and innovation. Vishal Raheja, managing director of InvestoXpert, as the company continues to expand its footprint both domestically and internationally, its “focus remains on attracting top talent…
In a recent ruling, the Supreme Court of Spain declared that the duration of a morning coffee break and the time employees take to settle into their workday must be included in their total hours worked. This decision grants workers a grace period of up to 15 minutes at the commencement of their shift, provided such an arrangement has been mutually agreed upon by the company and its employees. The ruling originates from a disagreement involving Caixabank’s employees and management. The discussion centred on the latter’s assertion that recorded work hours should accurately reflect actual working time. Specifically, the court…
By 2025, BetterPlace, the SaaS and horizontal platform for frontline workforce management will upskill about one lakh frontline workers, of which 25 per cent will be women. BetterPlace has entered into an agreement with the Government of Uttar Pradesh’s Department of Vocational Education, Skill Development and Entrepreneurship. The platform will upskill these workers and make them employable in a year’s time. Over 52 per cent of frontline workers face a dearth of upskilling opportunities, leading to underutilisation of human capital, which is not good for the Indian economy in the long run. Not only will this upskilling result in better…
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) seems determined to implement new duty norms for pilots starting 1 June, 2024. The new norms are to ensure more time for rest and minimise night-time flying for pilots. However, the airlines had sought the implementation to be postponed as they would need to hire more pilots and train them to be able to adhere to the new norms. These new norms are being enforced by the DGCA following recent instances of pilot deaths. In a recent case, a pilot had died of a cardiac arrest just before he was to fly. These…
Air India has let go of over 180 non-flying staff members in recent weeks. The impacted employees are those who failed to utilise the opportunities to avail of the voluntary retirement schemes (VRS) or reskill themselves. They form about one per cent of the workforce. The airline, owned by the Tata Group, has assured that it is fulfilling all obligations as per contract. The last year and a half has seen the airline evaluating the suitability of individual employees for various non-flying roles. Two rounds of VR schemes were also offered during this time, along with opportunities for the employees…
Talent tango: Fresh faces, sharp skills, or tech triumph? HR’s 2024 balancing act While external perspectives can fuel innovation, empowering internal talent to match global standards should be the primary focus. Establishing learning academies for talent identification and upskilling, along with building a strong pipeline for future leadership roles, is an effective strategy. Balancing internal and external talent through equal opportunity programmes is vital for cultural and operational readiness, positioning organisations to stay ahead. Work reimagined: Office redux, remote reign, or hybrid harmony in 2024? To navigate the ongoing discourse on workplace flexibility, organisations must recognise the diverse needs of…
Uno Minda, a global manufacturer in proprietary automotive solutions, recently declared the issuance of 55,600 equity shares to its employees. The move comes subsequent to the activation of options within the Uno Minda Employee Stock Option Scheme 2019. Approved by the company’s Nomination & Remuneration Committee on 13 March, 2024, these shares have a nominal value of Rs 2 each. As a result of this allotment, the company’s paid-up equity share capital has risen from Rs 1,14,80,77,950 to Rs 1,14,81,89,150. Uno Minda emphasised that while this allotment is notable, it does not meet the threshold for materiality as defined by…
In a recent ruling, the Kerala High Court issued a ground-breaking verdict on the issue of entitlement to interest on delayed retirement benefits. The petitioner, PV Nandakumar, a retired executive engineer, had initiated a writ petition seeking interest on the belated disbursement of his retirement benefits. His advocates contended that the rejection of his petition by the Single Judge was unjust, given the impracticality of pursuing alternative remedies in his case. The respondents argued that financial constraints faced by the Water Authority contributed to the delay in disbursing retirement benefits. Nonetheless, the court deemed this defence inadequate to deny Nandakumar…
The Rajasthan government has announced a significant four per cent increase in dearness allowance (DA) for state-government employees and pensioners. The decision, finalised during a state cabinet meeting in Jaipur on 14 March, will directly benefit approximately eight lakh employees and 4.40 lakh pensioners. Previously set at 46 per cent, the DA has now been elevated to 50 per cent, effective from 1 January, 2024. The chief minister highlighted the financial implications, noting that the four per cent hike will impose an additional burden of around Rs 1,640 crore annually on the state exchequer. Along with the DA hike, the…
Employees of Aavin have called upon the Tamil Nadu Cooperative Milk Producers Federation to disburse the eight per cent dearness allowance (DA) owed to them. Aavin is the popular brand name under which the Tamil Nadu Cooperative Milk Producers Federation operates. It is a cooperative society involved in the procurement, processing, and distribution of milk and milk products in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. This appeal comes from about 4,500 employees in various positions throughout the state and affiliated with 22 unions associated with the Federation. These employees have not received the increments as announced by the State government.…
To ensure a future-ready workforce, the Directorate General of Training (DGT) has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Future Right Skills Network (FRSN). The Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) are gearing up to introduce the innovative curriculum “AI for All.” This curriculum, designed to enhance awareness of Artificial Intelligence (AI), will delve into its history, principles, and various types. With this curriculum, learners will have the opportunity to explore the practical applications of AI and Generative AI tools in creating digital content and enhancing educational experiences. The curriculum aims to initiate individuals into the realm of AI, bridging the…
The Assam government has announced a four per cent hike in dearness allowance or DA for government employees. New Year celebrations of the state, that is, Bohag Bihu. The revised DA will come into effect from 1 January, 2024 and will be disbursed in three batches, that is, one instalment every month, starting in May 2024. The hike has been announced close on the heels of a four per cent hike in DA announced by the Centre for Central government staff, as per the Seventh Pay Commission. Additionally, Assam government employees who apply for loans under the Pradhan Mantri Surya…