Author: Dr. Prajjal Saha | HRKatha

As India progresses towards its ambition of becoming a $10 trillion economy by 2035, a profound transformation is reshaping its labour market. Automation—once confined to manufacturing assembly lines—has evolved into an immediate reality touching nearly every sector. The implications are stark: demand for lower and medium-skill roles is set to decline dramatically, creating both unprecedented challenges and opportunities for the world’s most populous nation. The global surge Globally, automation’s pace has surpassed even aggressive predictions. Sophisticated algorithms now manage customer service, artificial intelligence creates content, and autonomous systems handle logistics. McKinsey’s latest research suggests approximately 30 per cent of work…

Sanjeeb Lahiri, CHRO, GRP, joined the company seven years ago to help transform a traditional recycling business into a recognised sustainability leader. Now in its 51st year, GRP specialises in reclaimed rubber and engineering plastics, maintaining an average employee tenure of 15 years across its 1,000-strong workforce. The company has successfully repositioned itself from “scrap business” to impact-positive sustainability partner, working with global tyre companies while maintaining strong family values and employee loyalty. Lahiri discusses with Dr. Prajjal Saha, founder and editor of HRKatha, how purpose-driven talent strategies are transforming India’s sustainability manufacturing sector, bridging generational knowledge gaps, and creating…

The HR profession stands at an inflection point. Digital transformation, evolving workforce expectations, and the rapid pace of organisational change have fundamentally altered what it means to be an HR professional in 2025. Yet, our recognition systems remain anchored in outdated paradigms that celebrate tenure over innovation, experience over impact, and hierarchy over potential. Today, we change that narrative. The launch of the HRKatha Rising Star Leadership Awards represents more than just another industry recognition programme. It embodies a philosophy that the future of HR leadership isn’t waiting in corporate boardrooms – it’s being shaped right now by professionals who…

Richard Lobo, chief people officer at Tech Mahindra, shares his insights on the evolving workplace, the changing role of managers, and how organisations can balance technology advancement with human capabilities. In this exclusive interview with Dr. Prajjal Saha, founder and editor of HRKatha, Lobo discusses how businesses are redefining talent acquisition, performance management and career development in the age of AI. Q: Organisations must transcend rigid roles and hierarchies to achieve business agility. Yet we see a persistent trend of hiring based on past experiences rather than potential. How do you envision a future where skills and adaptability take precedence…

Across Mumbai’s financial districts, Bengaluru’s bustling tech corridors, and Gurugram’s thriving corporate hubs, a profound revolution is underway. Algorithms and intelligent systems are steadily claiming the routine, transactional work that once defined HR. Payroll processing, benefits administration, documentation? These tasks are increasingly the domain of machines. The HR function as we know it is dying. Let’s be clear: the administrative, compliance-focused HR department that has dominated businesses for decades faces extinction. What’s replacing it isn’t merely evolution but radical transformation that will separate visionary organisations from those condemned to mediocrity. From Mumbai to Bengaluru, the verdict is unanimous—the future has…

With nearly four decades of rich HR experience, Sushil Baveja brings valuable insights from his journey across multinational corporations and Indian conglomerates. Currently serving as chief human resources officer at Jindal Stainless, Baveja previously held significant positions at DCM Shriram, Cadbury, and Gillette. Known for his expertise in talent development and union management, he shares his perspectives on the evolving manufacturing landscape in this exclusive interview with Dr Prajjal Saha, founder and editor, HRKatha. Q: For years, the IT and knowledge sectors attracted top talent with lucrative compensation and benefits. However, recently there’s been some instability due to layoffs and…

Each May 1st, the world pauses to commemorate Labour Day—a day steeped in history, honouring the sacrifices of workers who fought for fair wages, reasonable hours, and safe working conditions. Born in the fires of industrial struggle, Labour Day has long been a symbol of solidarity and a rallying cry for equity in the workplace. But here we are in 2025, living in a world transformed by digitisation, automation, and the explosive rise of the service economy. The question isn’t whether Labour Day is still relevant in India—it is whether we have the courage to expand its scope and reshape…

Many of us have grown up in an era where securing a job was the quintessential path to success. First, it was primarily government and PSU positions, then with privatisation and economic liberalisation, private-sector roles became equally coveted by the Indian middle class—particularly for their impressive packages and perks. The Seventh Pay Commission nearly levelled the playing field just as government employees were growing anxious about private-sector compensation. In the post-Independence era, the salaried job represented stability and respectability. Government jobs were especially revered—not just for their steady pay but for the social stature they conferred. With the advent of…

It’s common to see memes and jokes around HR. I think this is one department or function on which maximum memes are created. Well, it can be fun and entertaining for general folks, but it certainly takes a toll on HR professionals and creates anxiety. Behind these seemingly harmless jokes lies a profound crisis that’s silently devastating HR departments worldwide, creating a mental health emergency that demands immediate attention. Fresh research from skills-development firm, Corndel reveals a disturbing reality: nearly half of HR professionals report experiencing anxiety at least once a week. This isn’t merely concerning—it’s alarming. The constant ridicule…

In a workshop of an EV (electric vehicle) company, a 24-year-old engineer sketches the blueprint for an electric vehicle battery that could revolutionise urban transport. She isn’t working alone. Behind her success lies a meticulously designed talent strategy that has transformed how companies cultivate leadership in India’s most dynamic industrial sectors. Success hinges not just on technological innovation, but on the ability to cultivate and retain exceptional talent. At Eka Mobility, an Indian electric vehicle company, talent management has become a strategic weapon in maintaining competitive edge. “The foundation of any agile and thriving organisation is built upon the strength…

In boardrooms across the globe, executives are falling prey to a seductive fallacy: that artificial intelligence represents the pinnacle of workplace objectivity. Make no mistake—this is not merely misguided; it is dangerous. The rush to implement AI as judge, jury, and evaluator of human performance betrays a profound misunderstanding of what truly drives workplace excellence. When Salesforce deployed AI to guide leadership decisions in 2017, they weren’t just implementing a tool—they were advancing a mythology. The myth that algorithms, by virtue of their mathematical underpinnings, transcend the messy biases that plague human judgment. This is categorically false. Every AI system…

Elon Musk’s management style has always been a study in contradictions—bold yet rigid, visionary yet controlling. His recent endorsement of task reporting—a system where employees meticulously document their daily accomplishments to validate their worth—is a stark reminder of the outdated, industrial-era mindset that views workers as cogs in a machine. While task reporting might seem pragmatic in theory, its fundamental flaws render it an ineffective and counterproductive management tool, especially in modern workplaces where innovation, trust, and autonomy drive success. And then there’s the generational factor. India’s workforce is rapidly being dominated by Gen Z—a generation raised in a digital-first…

A whistleblower’s email to the ethics committee of one of India’s largest technology companies, which has been accessed by HRKatha, has laid bare disturbing allegations that – if proven true – challenge the very foundation of corporate ethics. While HRKatha cannot independently verify the authenticity of these claims, the detailed nature of the complaint and its implications warrant serious consideration. In a comprehensive email that names both the CEO and the CHRO, the employee describes a calculated scheme to deliberately fail new recruits at training centres, complete with intimidation tactics that would seem more at home in a gangster’s playbook…

The truth about your HR department is uglier than you think. Behind the carefully crafted emails about employee engagement and wellness initiatives lies a profession in crisis. According to Personio’s latest research, over half of HR professionals have experienced burnout in the past five years, with one-third planning their escape from the profession entirely. Sage’s 2024 report reveals an even more alarming picture: 95 per cent of HR leaders feel overwhelmed, 84 per cent experience frequent stress, and 81 per cent report burnout. These aren’t just statistics—they’re distress signals from a profession at its breaking point. In India, the narrative…

The global buzz around four-day workweeks has reached a fever pitch, and corporate India’s tepid response reveals a troubling reluctance to embrace inevitable change. While nations from Germany to Brazil forge ahead with bold workplace experiments, we remain stubbornly anchored to outdated notions of productivity that equate long hours with dedication. This mindset isn’t just obsolete – it’s actively harming our economic potential and human capital. Let’s be brutally honest: India’s current work culture is unsustainable. In our metros, countless professionals waste precious hours in soul-crushing commutes, reaching home when their children are already asleep. Our celebrated IT sector, for…

The mask has slipped. These are the moments when corporate leaders inadvertently drop their carefully cultivated public personas and reveal their true colours. SN Subrahmanyan, chairman and managing director of Larsen & Toubro (L&T), has given us precisely such a moment of clarity. In lamenting his inability to force employees to work on Sundays—complete with an astonishingly tone-deaf quip about spouses ‘merely staring at each other’ at home—Subrahmanyan hasn’t just sparked outrage. His endorsement of a 90-hour workweek, which drew criticism even from corporate peers such as RPG Group’s chairman, Harsh Goenka, has provided a masterclass in everything wrong with…

The rise of Agentic AI marks a profound and unsettling shift in the narrative of artificial intelligence. While 2024 was consumed by the buzz around generative AI—celebrated for enhancing human productivity and creativity—the story of 2025 takes a darker turn. Agentic AI isn’t here to assist or collaborate with humans; it’s here to replace them. Unlike its predecessor, this technology’s autonomy and decision-making capabilities are poised to upend industries and dismantle traditional job roles in ways we have yet to fully grasp. Agentic AI is no incremental evolution; it is a paradigm shift. This is artificial intelligence that does not…

Power remains a fascinating and complex phenomenon. Over the past two decades, psychologists have consistently demonstrated that power—defined as control over resources, decision-making, and influence—does not inherently corrupt, but it does insulate. Those in positions of power often become less attuned to the needs and experiences of others. This is not a case of deliberate neglect or disregard but rather an unconscious drift into self-focus, as leaders become consumed by their own priorities and goals. This inattentiveness, while often unintentional, has profound consequences. Research indicates that individuals in positions of power frequently lose touch with the perspectives of their teams.…

For decades, the MBA was revered as the holy grail of career advancement—a symbol of elite business acumen and a golden ticket to the C-suite. It promised riches, prestige, and a trajectory that no other degree could rival. However, in today’s rapidly changing professional landscape, the MBA is no longer the unassailable symbol of success it once was. Rising costs, diminishing returns, and a rapidly changing job market are forcing us to confront an uncomfortable truth: the MBA may have outlived its prime. Aspiring students are now compelled to confront a pressing question: what is the MBA really worth, and…

Remote work was heralded as a revolution—a promise of freedom and flexibility, a balancing act between personal lives and professional excellence. But as the pandemic catapulted millions into working from home, a quiet transformation began. Trust broke down, and in its place, a disturbing regime of corporate surveillance emerged. The very technologies that once made remote work liberating are now weaponised to monitor, micromanage, and control employees with Orwellian precision. Let’s not mince words: workplace surveillance has spiralled into a dystopian nightmare. In their quest for productivity, companies have turned to invasive technologies that track every keystroke, mouse movement, and…

On 29 August, a few weeks after the World Whistleblowers Day, India’s largest IT services company terminated an employee who had served the organisation for over 11 years. The dismissal wasn’t just another HR decision; it was a move that has left a dark stain on the corporate world. Five years ago, the employee had filed a sexual harassment complaint against her manager. While the company claims her social media activity and alleged policy breaches justified her termination, the timing—mere weeks after a labour court ruled in favour of the company in the harassment case—raises uncomfortable, undeniable questions. What followed…

The social media recently had a field day dissecting a blunt, one-liner leave email from a Gen Z employee. To the traditionalist, this was borderline offensive: no polite preamble, no respectful request—just a direct, unembellished declaration. But should we really be shocked? If we’ve been paying attention, this shouldn’t be surprising at all. Gen Z isn’t here to play by legacy rules, and they aren’t asking for permission. This generation has grown up with autonomy at the forefront. They inform; they don’t defer. They communicate with precision, not pretence. For Gen Z, a leave email’s purpose is to notify, not…

Recently, CEO Ravi Kumar shared a remarkable statistic: 13,000 former Cognizant employees from 40 countries have rejoined the company. This isn’t just a statistic—it’s a statement. It’s proof that, in an era where loyalty seems a relic, a company can still cultivate a culture people want to return to. And it speaks volumes about Cognizant’s employee value proposition at a time when others are struggling to keep their best talent. Chief People Officer Kathy Diaz noted that Cognizant has seen a 40 per cent surge in returning employees over the past two years. “We’ve seen a 40 per cent increase…

It’s no longer a hypothetical question. Has AI begun to replace human jobs? Recent headlines suggest that the answer is yes—and it’s happening faster and more quietly than we might think. According to The New York Times, some companies are employing a practice known as ‘silent firing’, making roles so unbearable that employees quit, only to be replaced by AI. No need for layoffs or pink slips—just let the machines slip in and quietly take over. And it’s not limited to one sector or role. Amazon’s recent push to get employees back to the office five days a week, despite…

There was a time when being ‘overqualified’ meant having too many degrees for a low-skill job. A glaring example occurred in Uttar Pradesh, a few years back, where a shocking 3,700 PhD holders applied for peon vacancies—jobs that required no more than a Class V education. This absurdity highlighted a broken system, but today the issue has evolved. Overqualification is no longer about degrees alone; now, it’s about being too skilled, and it’s still holding companies back. Recently, Google made headlines for rejecting a Delhi-based software engineer for being ‘overqualified.’ This isn’t just a bad hiring decision—it’s a symptom of…

The recent misstep by the CEO of a well-known ride-sharing company brought to light a critical issue: mediocre leaders, when elevated to CEO positions, inevitably crash and burn. In this particular instance, the CEO’s controversial comments on work-life balance and people management unleashed a wave of criticism, and rightly so. This wasn’t an isolated incident. The company had already been under scrutiny for its questionable people management practices and toxic leadership culture. What we’re seeing here is the sad result of mediocrity at the helm. This isn’t just about one company or one leader—this is a cautionary tale for the…