Author: Liji Narayan | HRKatha

What does ‘dominant anxiety’ mean? Every major workplace transformation produces several reactions at once: curiosity, excitement, scepticism, resistance and fear. Sometimes one becomes powerful enough to colour all the others. That is useful shorthand for dominant anxiety: the concern that becomes so prominent that it begins shaping how people interpret everything happening around a change. With AI, that anxiety rarely concerns the technology alone. Employees may worry about whether their jobs will survive, whether the skills they spent years acquiring will remain valuable, whether algorithms will judge their performance, whether decisions will become less transparent, or whether productivity gains will…

Tewolde Gebremariam, who is set to become Air India’s new CEO and managing director after regulatory approvals, has reportedly told employees that they will play a central role in the airline’s next phase of transformation. Speaking at a company-wide townhall, Gebremariam is reported to have said that safety must remain Air India’s top priority and that every employee has a responsibility to protect it. He urged staff to report concerns and potential risks without hesitation, saying a strong reporting culture would help build a stronger safety culture. His message comes at a sensitive time for Air India, following the AI…

The fascinating part of HR For Ina Bajwa, chief people officer, Tilaknagar Industries, one of the earliest surprises about HR was how much commercial understanding the function actually demanded. To advise a business leader credibly, she realised, she needed to understand the business model, its economics, customers and competitive environment, as well as the consequences of the decisions being made. More than two decades later, that is still what holds her interest. Bajwa does not wake up thinking about HR programmes. She thinks about business problems and what needs to be true about the organisation for the business to win.…

A company can be an excellent place to build a career. It can also be a terrible one. Remarkably, it can be both at the same time. Across America’s large employers, the average gap between the highest- and lowest-performing roles within the same company is 81 percentile points, according to the Burning Glass Institute’s Good Company, Wrong Job. The study follows the career histories of roughly 12 million workers across 1,750 large employers, using data predominantly from 2019 to 2024 and measuring what actually happened to workers rather than what employers said about themselves. Eighty-one points is not a small…

What do ‘managerial augmentation’ and managerial substitution’ mean? Managerial augmentation and managerial substitution describe two different ways technology can change management. Augmentation makes managers more capable. Artificial intelligence (AI) can summarise information, identify patterns, automate administration, surface workforce risks and help managers coordinate increasingly complex teams. The manager remains responsible for interpreting that information and deciding what to do. Technology assists; judgement remains human. Substitution goes further. Tasks previously performed by managers are transferred to technology, processes or employees themselves. Algorithms allocate work. Platforms monitor performance. Automated systems schedule shifts. Self-managed teams make decisions that once travelled upwards for approval.…

A three-day nationwide bank strike planned from 28 to 30 September has raised concerns about disruption to customer services and branch operations. The strike, called by the United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU), comes just after the weekend holidays on 26 and 27 September, which means banking services could be limited for five consecutive days. The timing also coincides with the sector’s half year closing, adding to the impact. United Forum of Bank Unions, representing nearly 90 per cent of officers and employees across public-sector banks, is pressing for several demands. These include the introduction of a five day banking…

A 73 year old former employee of National Insurance Company Limited has finally secured his retirement benefits after fighting a legal case for 24 years. As reported by the Indian Express, he had joined the insurer in 1978 and worked for about 24 years before being removed from service in 2002. The removal followed a departmental inquiry into alleged irregularities in processing and settling insurance claims. His appeal within the company was rejected, prompting him to approach the High Court. While his petition was pending, the CBI also filed criminal charges against him in 2004 over the same transactions. After…

Swiggy has introduced a new feature called Early Cashout that allows its food delivery partners to withdraw their earnings whenever they need, instead of waiting for weekly payouts. Available through the Swiggy Partner app, the service is designed to give workers greater financial flexibility across more than 720 cities. With this option, partners can check their available balance in the app, enter the amount they want to withdraw, and receive the money within an hour. The process is simple and can be done in three steps under the “Easy Cashout” section of the earnings page. This means delivery staff can…

Barclays is facing growing resistance from thousands of employees after announcing stricter office attendance requirements. The bank recently informed staff that those currently working two days a week in the office must increase to at least three days from next month. Senior leaders are expected to be present four days weekly. Unite, the union representing around 36,000 Barclays employees, has urged the bank to reverse the decision. It argues that the change will increase travel and childcare costs, and is pressing for exemptions and financial compensation. An open letter signed by thousands of staff highlights that current flexible arrangements have…

A US-based financial-technology firm, Bluevine, has abruptly terminated its entire Indian customer support team in a five-minute Google Meet call, leaving around 80 employees jobless. As per media reports, the layoffs were communicated late into their evening shift after staff had been asked to work remotely for the day citing “operational reasons.” Bluevine, which provides digital-banking services such as online business accounts, payment tools, and credit lines for small businesses, reportedly justified the move by claiming the Indian team was not delivering the expected output. Employees, however, contested this explanation, pointing out that attrition and performance issues were more common…

Priyadarshi Bhattacharya has been promoted to managing director, global head HR-group technology, strategy & transformation, and APAC countries at Swiss Re. He has been associated with the wholesale provider of reinsurance, insurance and other forms of risk transfer since July of 2020, when he joined as head of HR at Swiss Re India, based out of Bengaluru. In less than five years, he was elevated to global head HR-group technology and transformation. This role saw him leading the people agenda across the Global Technology Group Function, championing change and building leadership capabilities, based out of Zurich, Switzerland. After serving as…

When she said she wanted to lead sales, Sulbha Kaushal Rai was cautioned that it “wasn’t that simple”, that it required rough language and tough conversations. She went to the ground instead, learnt the business from the people who ran it, and let outcomes do the arguing. Belonging in HR For Sulbha Kaushal Rai, chief people officer, RenewBuy, HR was not the career she originally expected to pursue. She completed her MBA with finance as her major and HR as her minor, fully expecting her future to lie in finance. During an internship at EY, however, she was placed with…

Hexaware Technologies, the IT services and consulting company, has elevated Manjunath GM to vice president-talent acquisition (head – leadership and strategic recruitment). His association with Hexaware began in June of 2018 when he joined as assistant vice president-talent acquisition, based out of Bangalore. Four years into this role, he was elevated to associate vice president-talent acquisition and head-leadership and strategic hiring. Four year later he was promoted yet again to vice president-talent acquisition (head-leadership and strategic recruitment). Armed with a BSc in Electronics, Manjunath started his professional journey as manager-talent acquisition, AXA in August of 2000. For over 15 years…

What does ‘career lattice’ mean? The career lattice replaces one of the most enduring images of professional life: the ladder. A ladder offers one direction. Up. A lattice allows movement sideways, diagonally and across functions, with employees building careers through different roles, disciplines, geographies and skill domains rather than through promotion alone. An employee might move from operations into strategy, take an international assignment, shift from management back into a specialist role, or cross functions to acquire experience that becomes valuable much later. Not every move brings a bigger title. Some build breadth, others deepen expertise, and occasionally a step…

After over three years with Esappling, Shivangi R has been promoted to chief human resources officer (CHRO). An alumna of Boston University where she studied International Business,  Shivangi R worked with Dell Technologies as human resources manager for eight years, from June of 2015 to May of 2023. She served as the interface with customers to resolve questions and issues regarding compensation administration/processes, provided data for any internal business controls teams as required, and ensured compliance to client’s existing standards. After eight successful years with Dell, Shivangi moved to Esappling, the appliances, electrical, and electronics- manufacturing company, in September of…

Falcon Marine Exports has elevated Anil Mohanty to group chief human resources officer (CHRO), effective 1 June 2026. He has been serving the Indian aquaculture company specialising in the production, processing, and export of fresh and frozen seafood, especially shrimp. Armed with an MBA in Human Resources Management from the Institute of Marketing and Management, Mohanty joined Idea Cellular as senior manager-HR, in 1996. He spent over a decade and a half with Idea Cellular before moving to Tata Teleservices in 2007, as circle HR head, Madhya Pradesh and Chattisgarh. For over a year and a half he successfully handled…

In a recent case, the Mumbai Suburban District Consumer Commission ruled against the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) for delaying a retiree’s claim settlement. After all, isn’t the provident fund savings meant to support an employee in retirement? The complainant, a former employee of Fleet Maritime Services (India), submitted his PF claim on 19 October, 2016. The claim was worth over Rs14 lakh. Under the EPF Scheme, 1952, such claims must be settled within 20 days. However, the amount was only credited on 14 December, 2016—a delay of 35 days! Of course, EPFO argued that the delay was not its…

The proposed rule from the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) would remove the 60 day grace period that foreign workers currently get after losing a job. For H 1B visa holders and others on similar visas, this change means they would no longer have time to look for a new employer while staying in the US. Workers would be left with no option but to leave immediately with their return remaining uncertain. They would have to simple hope and wait till a new sponsor files paperwork through a US consulate abroad to be able to go back to the…

Super Smelters, the Indian steel manufacturing company, has roped in Dilip Sinha to play president and chief human resources officer (CHRO). Till recently, Sinha was with Jindal Steel & Power as president and CHRO, Angul. Dilip Sinha has worked with the Future Group as chief people officer for over four years, from 2008 to 2012. He then moved to Astarch Group as group head (global HR) for a year and nine months before joining Rajan Raheja Group, as group head and chief human resources officer (CHRO), in 2014. The two years and ten months there were spent helping nurture a…

IKS Health has roped in Arun Nair for the role of vice president-human resources (VP-HR). He moves from Rubicon Research where he was had been heading global talent acquisition and retention since 2024. This will be Nair’s third stint with the company that provides technology, AI and deep healthcare expertise to the healthcare sector. Nair spent the initial two years of his professional journey as an analyst and then a module leader before joining Respondez as project lead in 2005. In May of 2007, he became senior resource manager-pharma/medical device at Bellsoft Inc. He spent over eight years with this…

Walking into a room, Beena Jacob sometimes found herself expected to advocate for the people perspective alone, not challenge business assumptions or debate profitability. She chose to challenge that expectation, and in doing so, lower the barrier for every woman who would walk into that room after her. From sales and marketing to operations, and then HR For Beena Jacob, CHRO, Blue Dart, HR came after years spent on the business side, an experience she now considers one of her greatest strengths as a people leader. She began in sales and marketing, learning firsthand how organisations create value for customers,…

Saudi Arabia has warned employers not to let their workers take jobs elsewhere or work independently. If they do, the employer can face a fine of up to SAR?100,000, six months in jail, and a five-year ban on hiring new staff. The Ministry of Interior said these penalties aim to stop illegal employment and protect proper sponsorship rules. Employers must make sure their workers only work under their approved contracts. The public is also urged to report any violations of residency or work laws by calling 911 in major cities or 999 in other regions. Last month, Saudi Arabia had…

About 85 per cent of Indian organisations say AI or agentic AI is transforming their hiring processes in FY26, up from about 79 per cent a year earlier. Only 35 per cent say the technology has created new early-career roles or skill requirements, up from 21 per cent in FY25, according to Deloitte’s Campus Workforce Trends 2026 report. The distance between those two numbers is more revealing than either statistic alone. One measures how companies recruit; the other measures whether AI is beginning to create new early-career roles or alter the skills those roles require. Artificial Intelligence has moved rapidly…

After over a decade-long association with Bumi Armada, Sasha Vijayananthan has moved to Sodexo to play senior vice president, human resources- Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa (APMEA). Vijayananthan is backed by about three decades of experience having begun her professional journey with Ernst & Young, Malaysia, as audit senior-assurance. Almost five years later, she moved to PwC as consultant in May of 2001. She then spent over a year with The Audit Commission, UK as an auditor before joining Ernst & Young as an auditor in 2003. By the time she moved on from there in 2013, she had…

Uber has announced a sharp restructuring that combines job cuts with a strict return to office policy. Around 3,300 corporate roles have been eliminated by the ride-hailing, food delivery, and freight-logistics services company, mainly in management and coordination. This represents about 10 per cent of its workforce. At the same time, the company has told nearly all of its 29,000 remaining employees to relocate to offices and follow a rigid hybrid model. The new rules allow only about one per cent of staff to remain fully remote, a steep reduction from pandemic era flexibility. Everyone else must spend at least…

Government employees in Punjab have extended their pen-down strike until 11 September, stepping up pressure on the state government to resolve their long-pending demands. The main issue is unpaid dearness allowance (DA) dues and arrears. Employees recruited before 17 July, 2020, say several DA instalments and other allowances are still pending. They want the government to clear these dues rather than merely announce fresh increases for newer employees. The employees are also demanding the withdrawal of show-cause notices and disciplinary action against those who took part in the state-wide agitation on August 27. Unions have objected to the government treating…