Author: Radhika Sharma | HRKatha

In today’s rapidly-evolving global landscape, the significance of diversity and inclusion within the workplace cannot be overstated. By embracing and cultivating a diverse and inclusive workforce, companies unlock a multitude of benefits, ranging from heightened innovation and creativity to improved decision-making. Following the same footsteps, Siemens, a global powerhouse in technology and engineering, introduced a series of programmes targeted to increase this DE&I approach globally, under ‘The Four-lever Approach.’ Talking about the initiative, Shilpa Kabra Maheshwari, EVP and country head, (people & organisation-HR), Siemens India, shares that Siemens has been discussing the importance of diversity and inclusion for quite some…

Leadership onboarding plays a critical role in the success of organisations by ensuring that newly-appointed leaders are equipped with the necessary knowledge, skills and support to effectively navigate their roles. As leaders step into positions of authority and influence, they have a profound impact on the direction, culture and performance of their teams. Therefore, it is essential for organisations to prioritise a comprehensive onboarding process specifically tailored to leaders. Here’s how to do it effectively. Set clear expectations: In terms of leadership, what matters beyond the usual practices at various levels is how one establishes expectations. It is crucial to…

While apologising for mistakes is a commendable quality, an excessive tendency to apologise can sabotage the very foundation of strong leadership. Yes, strength and confidence are essential traits in leaders that inspire and motivate teams to achieve greatness. However, overdoing this expression of regret or over-apologising can undermine even the strongest of leaders. How? Here’s how: Diminished authority: Leaders are expected to make tough decisions and steer their teams towards success. However, excessive apologising can undermine their authority. By constantly expressing remorse, leaders inadvertently cast doubt on their judgment, making it challenging to inspire and motivate their followers effectively. Therefore,…

Body doubling, in the context of productivity, refers to the practice of having someone else present while you work on a task or project. This concept originated in the field of psychology and the term was first coined by Patricia Vance in the 1980s. Vance, a cognitive-behavioural therapist, utilised the technique of body doubling to assist individuals with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or executive function difficulties. The idea behind body doubling is to have another physical presence nearby while one is engaging in a task that requires focus and concentration. This other person or ‘body double’ acts as a…

The decision to whether accept a salary cut when offered a new job is a complex and subjective one, influenced by various factors and considerations. Many senior HR leaders feel that the decision requires a careful evaluation of several factors that individuals should take into account while considering a salary cut, along with the potential resistance factors and challenges they may encounter in such situations. The decision to take a salary cut after being laid off is highly personal and depends on people’s situations and financial circumstances. Also, there are many elements to consider beyond just salary. Growth prospects: The…

Kerala is at the forefront among states when it comes to the number of government employees awaiting payment of dearness allowance (DA) arrears. Dearness allowance (DA) is a form of adjustment to the cost of living for public sector employees and pensioners which the government provides to all state employees. While many states have settled their arrears up until the previous year, Kerala, on the other hand, still has pending payments for five instalments spanning 2.5 years. This failure to grant the DA has not only resulted in government employees experiencing a monthly reduction of 15 per cent in their…

A recruitment drive held at ITI Berhampur proved to be a resounding success as 550 students were offered promising job opportunities at Johnson Lift & Escalators. The event spanned two days, during which the campus buzzed with energy and anticipation. The culmination of the drive was marked by the presence of Prof Ashok Kumar Ganguly from the prestigious Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) in Berhampur, who graced the occasion and played a pivotal role in distributing the much-awaited appointment letters to the deserving students.   The campus recruitment drive drew the attention of Johnson’s human resources heads from…

Hiring the right candidate for a position is a critical task that managers undertake to ensure the success and growth of their organisations. In this process, managers often seek individuals who possess an ideal combination of desirable traits, including intelligence and trainability. Intelligent individuals with sharp minds and the ability to grasp complex concepts are highly valued for their problem-solving skills and ability to contribute innovative ideas. Moreover, candidates who exhibit a strong willingness to learn, adapt and develop their skills are often seen as valuable assets. But are these the only traits managers require in candidates? Not really. While…

In today’s competitive business landscape, organisations strive to maintain a high-performance culture, foster growth and maximise productivity. One aspect that plays a crucial role in achieving these objectives is attrition — the natural process of employees leaving and new talent joining an organisation. While attrition is inevitable, the way it is managed can significantly impact an organisation’s success. Positive attrition, also called voluntary attrition, in particular, where individuals willingly choose to leave, holds distinct advantages over involuntary attrition. As Anil Mohanty, senior HR leader, puts it, “If the employees who are not performing up to the mark, walk out voluntarily, it benefits…

Can the CEO of a company also be its food delivery partner? Looks like it is truly possible at Deliveroo. The global food-delivery company’s top management team left the boardroom and chose to drive along with their delivery executives in the bike lane. In an effort to experience the frontline operations, the company has introduced a unique and enjoyable initiative called “We Are Deliveroo”. Executives from the company decided to temporarily set aside their formal attire and hit the streets as delivery riders, bringing tasty meals to hungry customers. Among those who enthusiastically embraced this challenge was Sashi Somavarapu, vice president of…

With a strength of over 1000 employees, The Body Shop is committed to providing a safe and healthy working environment for all its employees. The company believes in creating a happy and engaging environment for all members of its workforce, to bring out the best in them. Satabdee Borah, AVP HR & administration, The Body Shop India, tells us how she makes this happen. Backed by over two decades of experience, Borah leads the people agenda for the company India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Nepal markets. Her expertise being talent management and acquisition, performance management, employee engagement, total rewards, training and…

Maintaining a stable workforce and retaining valuable talent is not easy. To succeed in doing so, it is important for organisations to identify the employees who are likely to quit. While some managers may rely on their gut feel or intuition to sniff out employees who may be contemplating leaving, artificial intelligence or AI-based data analysis can provide a more objective and data-driven approach. Both approaches have their own strengths. So then, which one is the more accurate of the two? “AI-based tools are helpful in analysing the data to identify patterns in employee attrition,” says Manish Majumdar, head-HR, EMS,…

Pay transparency and performance-based pay appear to be at odds with each other, what with pay transparency emphasising openness and fairness in compensation, and performance-based pay rewarding individuals for their achievements and contributions to the company. While both are different, the two concepts can co-exist in the same compensation system, believe many senior HR leaders. Sharing his personal experience, Vivek Tripathi, VP-HR, NewGen Technologies, confirms, “Pay transparency is higher in companies which truly give performance-based pay.” He also shares that companies, which fail to accept performance-based pay or implement it successfully experience lower pay transparency. For instance, in order to…

Mid-level managers hold a crucial role in any organisation, responsible for not just overseeing the operations but also managing the people within the company. In fact, the most successful mid – managers are often those who prioritise people-management skills and invest in building strong relationships with their employees. As Ravi Kumar, CPO, Page Industries, rightly says, “The organisation’s leadership is built on the foundation of mid-level managers. These managers are responsible for managing employees who directly interact with customers or work on the shop floor. They play a crucial role in mentoring, coaching and helping these employees grow.” When it…

In today’s competitive job market, employees need to be strategic and intentional about their career paths. While some individuals may be fortunate enough to stumble upon great career opportunities, the vast majority of people need to actively work to advance their careers. However, even the most talented and hardworking employees can find their progress hindered by certain career-limiting moves. These mistakes can range from failing to take initiative, to not communicating effectively or being tardy. By avoiding these career-limiting moves and focusing on building a strong professional brand, employees can increase their chances of success and achieve their professional goals.…

The last decade has witnessed a surge in the number of entrepreneurs. The massive growth in an entrepreneurial work culture and environment can be attributed to the fact that startups allow freedom of innovation, and have team members who are quick to respond to task responsibilities and do not shy away from taking ownership of their actions. These are the very traits that have helped Vaaree, a young home-furnishing startup, find the right talent needed for the company. When one hears the term ‘hiring’, it is natural to think of social platforms such as LinkedIn that can be relied on…

Godrej Capital, a financial services firm, has recently completed three years of operation. The company asserts that women hold 50 per cent of leadership positions in the organisation. The diversity journey of the company started with the appointment of Ruhie Pande as CHRO, who was the first employee and joined through internal mobility from Godrej Properties within the Godrej group. The journey gained momentum when Manish Shah took over as MD & CEO. The company aimed to achieve its diversity goals from the outset and conducted market mapping and interviews with numerous candidates to ensure equal representation of men and…

There is a growing trend towards transactional employee loyalty in many workplaces. Instead of traditional notions of loyalty, based on long-term relationships and a sense of commitment to a company, employees are increasingly regarding loyalty as a two-way exchange of value. In other words, they want their loyalty to be rewarded with concrete benefits — competitive pay, opportunities for career growth, and a positive work environment. However, this may be seen as a further indication that while loyalty is becoming less important in modern workplaces, it is not extinct. Rather, it is evolving. The pandemic has caused significant disruptions across multiple industries,…

Layoffs have been hogging headlines since the beginning of 2023. Many big companies, including Google, Meta and Amazon and now Accenture, have laid off thousands of employees in a go. How do companies pick the people who are to be let go? After all, taking a call after assessing each individual would be a cumbersome and time-consuming process. So what are the processes or algorithms used to identify employees who need to go during mass layoffs? “Companies do use certain criteria to identify people to be laid off,” admits Ramesh Shankar S, chief joy officer, Hrishti.com. He goes on to…

Posting ghost jobs is a controversial practice in the recruitment industry. It refers to the posting of fake job openings by a company to gauge the availability of talent in the job market. The company has no intention of filling the position, but is only seeking to understand the talent landscape in the industry. While some organisations believe this is a useful method to understand the talent market, others argue that it is unethical and can harm the company’s reputation. Why are ghost jobs posted? To understand the talent market: One of the main arguments in favour of posting ghost…

In the fast-growing education technology industry, some companies have worked up a reputation for their toxic work culture, mass layoffs and often brutal firing practices. For job seekers who have previously worked for such companies, this can be a blot on their resumes, hindering their search for new opportunities. When potential employers see these company names on a resume, they may be hesitant to hire the applicant, fearing that they may bring negative baggage or may not have the skills to thrive in a new environment. Job-seekers can feel stuck and frustrated, not knowing how to move past this stigma…

Diversity across all levels has become a priority in the corporate world. In fact, it has come to be the most important aspect today. However, its ratio differs from one level to the other in a company. At what level is it easier for companies to achieve diversity and where is it a challenge? “Achieving gender diversity at the entry level is simpler than at senior levels,” points out Shailesh Singh, CHRO, Max Life Insurance. Firstly, colleges and campuses tend to have a more diverse representation than organisations. In recent years, there has been a significant increase in the number…

Everyone works at their own pace. After all, not everyone can do the same tasks at the same pace. Even the learning pace differs from individual to individual. However, when an important task is assigned to a team, and the primary focus is timely delivery, individuals working at a slow pace can actually hinder goal accomplishment. How can one deal with the slow movers in a project chain? Considering that these slow movers impact the productivity, output and deliverables of the entire team, managers have to come up with ways to deal with such team members. Here are some suggestions: Communicate…

The younger generation, including Millennials and Gen Z, are rapidly becoming the largest demographic in the workforce and job market. Therefore, companies need to adapt their strategies to cater to this cohort’s preferences and values. These youngsters do not believe in long-term rewards and are unwilling to make short-term sacrifices for the long-term rewards. Therefore, companies should consider setting short-term goals that align with the needs and aspirations of the younger generation. How can companies benefit from short-term goals? Focusing on the long-term goals alone, will not help manage the changing needs of businesses. Short-term goals can benefit companies in…

AI-based machines or chatbots used in HR are often blamed to be inconsiderate, insensitive and unempathetic. However, it’s important to note that even human HR can occasionally be discourteous and unresponsive to employee concerns. What if we could programme AI chatbots and machines used in HR to make them more empathetic, sensitive, and considerate? Would this be an effective solution, leading to increased use of AI-based chatbots in the system? “Humans can be biased and inconsiderate in certain situations. If machines can be programmed to be unbiased in these situations, it could be advantageous,” agrees Rishav Dev, CHRO, Noveltech Feeds.…

Most of us have dealt with Monday morning blues at some point. As students we’ve felt tired and lazy after a fun weekend and made excuses to stay away from school or college. As adult professionals, especially when unhappy at work, we’ve often felt depressed and lethargic at the thought of going to work on a Monday. Then emerged a trend, which was something close to a solution to these blues. Called ‘Bare Minimum Monday’, the phrase was coined by Marisa Jo, a TikTok content creator. Not surprisingly, she came up with it while struggling with the ‘Sunday scaries’ —…