Author: Radhika Sharma | HRKatha

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’ —…

Leaders are expected to be unflappable figures, fearless and always in control. They are seen as heroes, possessing exceptional intelligence and brains erupting with brilliant ideas. From their position of superiority, they issue instructions, which their subordinates are expected to carry out. However, ever since the business world changed, after surviving the pandemic, people have realised that they do not need heroes but ‘human leaders’ or ‘people’s leaders’. Servant leadership Leaders are support systems. They are there to build the required capacity in their teams and achieve their objectives while working together to accomplish organisational goals. “The concept of servant…

Banking has always been considered a more male-dominated area, as it has more processes and systems that make it appear as a technological business. However, Mashreq Bank is one company that believes that even the women in the Bank’s workforce possess enough technical knowledge to handle these roles better. Mashreq Bank’s subsidiary, Mashreq Global Network Bangalore, is a crucial player in the company’s digital strategy and has taken on the responsibility of enabling remote work. Mashreq Bank is a prominent financial institution with a global presence in Europe, Asia, Africa and the US. It has been one of the UAE’s…

People stepping into the work culture for the first time are like artists starting to paint on a blank canvas. Therefore, the first job is crucial in determining one’s future career path. For those entering a professional or corporate environment, their experiences shape their vision for the future. This is where they get to actually apply their skills for the first time and learn how to do so effectively. As Ravi Kumar, CPO, Page Industries, rightly puts it, “It’s an adventure, because after graduating from college or school, one jumps into an unknown environment. It’s like being in a jungle.…

Organisations today want to embrace people centricity. They wish to bring in people who will focus on the human capital and help build human assets of the company. However, in reality, very few companies truly embody this principle and follow through with their words. This is where leadership plays a significant role, in fostering such a culture. And this is what was discussed at The Great HR Debate, Session- 5, on 17 February, 2023. In a special address at The Lalit Ashok, Bengaluru, respected industry veteran, S ‘Venky’ Venkatesh, president-group HR, RPG Group, explained how it’s important for organisations to…

While talent and people are undoubtedly crucial to business success, HR plays a vital supporting role in ensuring that the company has the right talent and organisational structure in place to achieve its goals. We generally see CEOs or other senior executives from the top ranks shouldering the responsibility of setting the strategic direction of the company and ensuring its success, while the HR may play a critical role in supporting these efforts. That being said, the role of HR has evolved over the years to become more strategic and focused on talent management and organisational effectiveness. Therefore, to understand…

Bob Iger, CEO, Disney, has mandated that employees return to the office for at least four days a week starting March 2023. Iger’s reasoning mirrors that of Tim Cook, CEO, Apple, who defended the tech giant’s in-person work policy as essential to fostering innovation and collaboration, despite sparking a petition from workers. More recently, employees of Amazon have submitted a petition against Andy Jazzy, CEO, who expects them to return to office for at least three days a week. However, according to a survey by Future Forum, employees with flexible work models are 57 per cent more likely to admit…

Nothing can be better for an organisation than having a team of high performers. It brings many benefits to the business including increased productivity, better performance and strategic growth in addition to an overall positive energy within the organisation. However, there’s one more great benefit of having good talent and that is to attract more good talent to the organisation. “A company that attracts top talent is often seen as a desirable place to work, and this can help attract even more high-quality employees,” says Ravi Chopra, senior HR leader & former group CHRO, Hero Motors Company. “Having a team…

Interview paralysis is a common phenomenon experienced by many job seekers during the interview process. It is the feeling of being overwhelmed and unable to perform effectively due to anxiety and fear of judgment. This can lead to a lack of preparation, difficulty in communicating one’s skills and qualifications, and ultimately, a lower chance of landing the job.  Reasons for interview paralysis There are many factors that can make individuals anxious preventing them from focusing and performing well during the interview. Dishonesty: One primary reason for candidates suffering interview paralysis is “putting things on their CV that they’re not able…

Bringing one’s whole self to work is one of the proven ways to feel more comfortable, confident and engaged in any given role. It simply means being authentic, honest and true to oneself at the workplace. This ultimately leads to more positivity and productivity at work. However, when new employees join a company, there’s always a mismatch somewhere. What should the employees do in such situations? Should they try to fit in, or just ignore the mismatch in culture or behavioural traits? “The employee who finds a mismatch on account of newness, should be pragmatic and mature enough to go through…