What is the strongest motivator for Indian employees to leave their employer? As per a Randstad report, it is the desire to improve work-life balance. In fact, this motivator is only growing in importance. This year, 51 per cent of the respondents have indicated this as the driver for leaving an organisation, which is two per cent more than last year. About 38 per cent employees in India feel that they lack career growth opportunities; that their career path is limited. About 34 per cent feel they are paid inadequately; that their compensation is not keeping pace with the cost…
Author: Liji Narayan | HRKatha
Liji Narayan | HRKatha
HRKatha prides itself in being a good journalistic product and Liji deserves all the credit for it. Thanks to her, our readers get clean copies to read every morning while our writers are kept on their toes.
The Indian economy is not just stable, but it is also indicating “resilience in the face of geopolitical challenges” says the Economic Survey. Youth participation in the labour force has been heartening and so is the participation of women, both in urban and rural India. As per the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS), unemployment has dropped from 17.8 per cent in 2017-18 to 10 per cent in 2022-23 for youth in the age group of 15 to 29 years. As per data released by the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO), there has been a significant rise in the formal employment…
Do Indian professionals fear artificial intelligence (AI)? Doesn’t really seem so. According to a Randstad report, around one in two workers in India are already using AI at work daily or regularly. The maximum users are members of Gen Z, for 60 per cent of the cohort is already using it. Most Indian workers are prepared to see some impact of AI on their job. What is heartening is that the majority expect the influence of AI on their work to be positive. Only about eight per cent fear a negative impact on their work. Surprisingly, Gen Z (12 per…
Who drives the culture of an organisation? The leaders of course! Hunt Scalon Media’s ‘Building a Modern Corporate Culture’ report rightly states that leaders are responsible for establishing and promoting the culture of the organisation. If positive changes need to be brought about in the organisation’s culture, it is again the leaders who must take the initiative and be proactive. The report says that true and lasting cultural change can only be brought about from the top. The leaders and the executives at the top of the hierarchy have to make it a priority and discuss the same at important…
Indian youth are dreaming big. In fact, a whopping 96 per cent of them have big dreams compared to 90 per cent of their counterparts in the US and 88 per cent in the UK. About 94 per cent Indian youth have clear goals and aspirations, with 19 per cent aspiring to be part of a renowned or reputed organisation. Only nine per cent of their global counterparts have the same aspiration. These figures are heartening. Considering that over 6,700 youth were part of the survey, from across seven countries, this data speaks volumes. After all, unless the youth of…
India continues to witness high levels of job switching, with one-third of workers having switched jobs in the July to December, 2023 period. This trend has not changed much in the past three years. No points for guessing which generation of workers is most inclined to switch jobs—yes, the millennials! Thirty-three percent of them are inclined to switching jobs. This does make us curious about the sector that attracts job switchers/seekers the most. The Randstad employer brand research report that covered almost 3507 respondents in the age group of 18 to retirement age, gives us some useful insights. It seems,…
Telangana is set to do all it can to make its local workforce globally competitive. The state government has entered into a memorandum of understanding or MoU with Corning——the American tech multinational, specialising in materials science—to make the local talent more skilled and capable as per global skills standards. The collaboration will see more skilling and innovation programmes designed and implemented for the benefit of the local workforce. The scope of the collaboration is in alignment with Telangana’s goal to become a global hub for innovation, development and research, especially in the chemical and pharmaceuticals space. Corning has also partnered…
Indian women have come a long way. Once hesitant to ask for sanitary pads at a chemist’s shop, they now discuss menstruation openly, not just at home but also at work. The topic, once taboo, is now broached even in the presence of male family members or colleagues. This progress begs the question: ‘Why do some feminists argue that menstrual leave contradicts the fight for equal opportunities?’ Despite the newfound openness, menstruation remains a curse for many working women, particularly those suffering from endometriosis or polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). In February 2023, the Supreme Court of India declined to hear…
It is nice to know that 73 per cent women in India rate themselves as highly ambitious. A whopping 90 per cent are willing to put in extra effort and go the extra mile at work. Wonderful, isn’t it? Yet, there are more men than women in the corporate world. Employers can no longer ignore the fact that the women in their workforce are leaving or are contemplating quitting because they are disappointed or unhappy with the work environment. What do women want from India Inc.? A study by AON attempted to answer this question. The pan-India study of working…
With the talent market being as competitive as it is presently, it is not surprising that employers are finding it tough to find the right talent and also retain the existing high-potential ones. The Michael Page Talent Trends 2024 Report reveals that nearly one in three employers in India is finding it challenging to retain existing employees. With the recruiting and retaining challenge comes the test of meeting salary expectations. As if the dearth of quality talent wasn’t enough, there emerges the issue of finding the ideal candidates. After all, it isn’t easy to find the right talent that is…
The opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics seems to be in for certain disruptions. Earlier, hundreds of dancers who were to perform at the ceremony tomorrow, that is, 26 July, had planned to go on strike to protest against wage disparities. However, after negotiations with the SFA-CGT, organisers of the event, the dancers managed to strike a deal and have accepted a revised pay offer. Represented by a union, the 3,000 dancers had been seeking a hike in pay and had been protesting the inequalities in pay. After negotiations, the lowest pay will now fall in the range of $150…
Kim Cheatle has taken full responsibility for the security lapse which led to the assassination attempt on Donald Trump, former US president. She has formally resigned from her post. While investigations are on into the 13 July incident where Trump was shot at and injured in one ear, Cheatle has been temporarily replaced by Ronald Rowe, as acting director. While Cheatle’s association with the Secret Service is over 27 years old, she began overseeing the safety and protection of current and former presidents and various officials only in 2022. The incident that resulted in the demanded for her resignation saw…
India may be amongst the global leaders in artificial intelligence (AI) but the Economic Survey 2024 says that the country has not invested enough in AI research. There is no formal plan in place in this regard either. The Survey states that while China had published over one lakh research papers on AI in 2019, the US had published over 74,000. India, on the other hand, had published just over 23,000. However, as per the Economic Survey 2024, AI has made a significant growth in some sectors, especially the agri-tech, industry & automotive, healthcare, BFSI and retail sectors in India.…
Three out of five employees in India are experiencing high or extreme levels of stress. This is almost 31 per cent more than last year. This revelation could not have come at a better time. Just when Karnataka’s labour department is proposing to increase the working hours of IT/ITeS employees to 14 per day, the Emotional Wellness State of Corporates report reinforces what most employers already know but choose to take lightly—Stress is taking a toll on employees! The survey by YourDOST, which involved over 2,000 employees in the age group of 21-70 from various companies, reveals some alarming facts…
Looks like those with skills in artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) are spoilt for choice when it comes to job offers. A Foundit skill-assessment trends report reveals that there is no dearth of opportunities in the AI/ML domain. In fact, there has been a 12 per cent increase in AI and ML jobs in the past one year. That isn’t all; the average minimum salary of freshers taking up AI/ML jobs is about Rs 7.8 lakhs per annum. With the widespread adoption of AI applications across sectors and industries, the demand for talent with verified AI and ML…
It is time for a revolution—a compensation and benefits twirl! The traditional perks do not attract the new-age workers in India any more. No longer are they inspired by predictable compensation plans, says the Compensation & Benefits Survey 2024 by ANSR. Their hearts seek customised compensation and benefits, along with adaptable and innovative solutions—learning opportunities, upskilling, career development and a clear career path. They will make a beeline for organisations that offer them flexibility, mental-health support and hybrid work options. In fact, 61 per cent of the survey respondents feel customisable health-benefits programmes are very important. The survey covered Indian…
GreenLine has roped in Bhupesh Sawantdesai for the role of chief human resources officer (CHRO). He takes up this role after serving as senior director-people business partner-logistics-SCO, at DP World for more than a year. An alumnus of the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), Sawantdesai began his professional journey with Kansai Nerolac Paints in 2003, as executive-human resources. Three years into this role, he switched to Emerson as senior manager-human resources for a little over two years. In 2009, he joined DHL Express India as business HR manager-India, based out of Mumbai. For the next four years, he successfully…
When employers expand their workforce, it means they are expecting growth and are confident that economic conditions will facilitate the same. They expect the health of their business as well as the sector in general to remain robust. A recent TeamLease survey shows that in the first half of FY 2024-25, Delhi has the highest proportion (53.21 per cent) of employers expanding their workforce size. Bangalore comes next with 50.46 per cent employers going for workforce expansion, followed by Hyderabad with 47.57 per cent. In terms of business size and functional area, startups and micro/small businesses and medium-sized enterprises make…
Workers in India are open to new careers. In fact, 94 per cent of those surveyed by Michael Page for the Talent Trends 2024 report are keen to explore different roles in 2024. This is four per cent less than those who were open to new roles during the same time last year. Globally, an average of 90 per cent workers are open to new roles, while in the APAC, the average is 89 per cent. However, what is to be noted is that the openness to explore new roles has continued since the start of the trend in 2022,…
That generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) is capable of significantly altering workforce dynamics cannot be denied. After all, such transformation will lead to the reshaping of talent management and impact businesses. Not surprisingly, organisations worldwide are relooking at their hiring strategies. What do Indian employers feel? The Employment Outlook Report by TeamLease for the first half of FY2024-25, reveals that 35 per cent of organisations surveyed across 23 industries report a substantial change in their approaches to talent acquisition, as they endeavour to integrate advanced AI technologies such as GenAI. Clearly, GenAI is leading to significant shifts in the types of…
Madhavan B, an engineer with a passion for people, has embarked on a new chapter in his career. After nearly three years at Airtel, he’s joined Elgi Equipments as HRBP-ISAAME & SEA, bringing with him a diverse and enriching journey in the world of Human Resources. Madhavan’s story began with a foundation in engineering, but his curiosity led him to explore the human side of business. He pursued an MBA in HR Management from the Symbiosis Centre for Management and Human Resource Development, equipping himself with the tools to navigate the complexities of people and organisations. His early career was…
CIFDAQ, an AI-powered blockchain ecosystem company, has announced the appointment of Anil Vasu as the co-founder and global chief human resource officer. Vasu is backed by over 25 years of experience in the acquisition space. In this role, he will oversee the global HR strategy, focusing on building a robust talent pipeline, enhancing employee engagement, and fostering a culture of innovation and excellence. His role will be crucial in supporting CIFDAQ’s rapid growth and ensuring that the company attracts and retains top talent in the industry. Vasu served as executive-corporate human resources, at Silicon Mountains from 1997 to 2002, based…
What are the top two drivers in increasing employee engagement and productivity among the newer workforce? Globally, 79 per cent employers feel that enhancing technology tools and placing more emphasis on employee wellbeing will lead to better employee engagement and productivity. In fact, 84 per cent employers in the information technology (IT) space and 83 per cent in the financials and real-estate space feel that improving technology tools will lead to more engaged and productive employees. A survey by the Manpower Group says that about 77 per cent of global employers feel that focus on overall wellbeing of employees is…
Deborah Dorman has been appointed chief people officer (CPO), Hays, a specialist recruitment and workforce solutions company. She was earlier with Sainsbury’s for over 16 years. Dorman’s professional journey began with Keene Communications as account director in 1996. Four years into this role, she moved to Hypa Creative as client services director, in 2000. In February 2004, she took up a similar role at Serac Communications, where her stint lasted a little less than four years. Her next stop was Sainsbury’s in September 2007. She joined as head of internal communications and engagement. Over three years later, she was elevated…
Just as a happy and healthy mother raises a happy and healthy child, only engaged managers can ensure that non-managers are engaged at work. According to a Gallup report, countries in the upper half of manager engagement are two times as likely to have engaged non-managers. The Gallup survey has found that A whopping 70 per cent of the variance in team engagement is due to the manager. While it is true that economic wellbeing and labour protection play a significant role in employees’ happiness at work, engagement is more the outcome of interpersonal relationships with one’s manager. Managers can…
SpaceX has been dragged to court by eight of its former employees, who have alleged that their termination from service was the company’s retaliation. The said employees had circulated an open letter in 2022 condemning the statements made by Elon Musk, CEO, SpaceX, on X (which was then Twitter). The letter said that Musk’s comments were distracting and embarrassing. The said employees have filed a lawsuit wherein they have stated that SpaceX as a workplace was like an ‘animal house’ where sexually suggestive behaviour was common. The plaintiffs are demanding compensation for damages for having had to put up with…