Close Menu
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
    • Our Story
    • Partner with us
    • Reach Us
    • Career
    Subscribe Newsletter
    HR KathaHR Katha
    • Exclusive
      • Exclusive Features
      • Research
      • Point Of View
      • Case In Point
      • Dialogue
      • Movement
      • Profile
      • Beyond Work
      • Rising Star
      • By Invitation
    • News
      • Global HR News
      • Compensation & Benefits
      • Diversity
      • Events
      • Gen Y
      • Hiring & Firing
      • HR & Labour Laws
      • Learning & Development
      • Merger & Acquisition
      • Performance Management & Productivity
      • Talent Management
      • Tools & Technology
      • Work-Life Balance
    • Special
      • Cover Story
      • Editorial
      • HR Forecast 2024
      • HR Forecast 2023
      • HR Forecast 2022
      • HR Forecast 2021
      • HR Forecast 2020
      • HR Forecast 2019
      • New Age Learning
      • Coaching and Training
      • Learn-Engage-Transform
    • Magazine
    • Reports
      • Whitepaper
        • HR Forecast 2024 e-mag
        • Future-proofing Manufacturing Through Digital Transformation
        • Employee Healthcare & Wellness Benefits: A Guide for Indian MSMEs
        • Build a Future Ready Organisation For The Road Ahead
        • Employee Experience Strategy
        • HRKatha 2019 Forecast
        • Decoding and Driving Employee Engagement
        • One Platform, Infinite Possibilities
      • Survey Reports
        • Happiness at Work
        • Upskilling for Jobs of the Future
        • The Labour Code 2020
    • Conferences
      • Rising Star Leadership Awards
      • HRKatha Futurecast
      • Automation.NXT
      • The Great HR Debate
    • HR Jobs
    WhatsApp LinkedIn X (Twitter) Facebook Instagram
    HR KathaHR Katha
    Home»Employee Engagement»How does the automobile industry keep its employees engaged during crisis?
    Employee Engagement

    How does the automobile industry keep its employees engaged during crisis?

    mmBy Kartikay Kashyap | HRKathaSeptember 23, 2019Updated:September 23, 20194 Mins Read24423 Views
    Share LinkedIn Twitter Facebook
    Share
    LinkedIn Twitter Facebook

    Every now and then when you check for your daily dose of news, you will come across people talking about the deteriorating situation in the automobile industry. The sales are at a record low, with companies shutting their factories for at least 15 days in a month. The auto ancillary industry has also witnessed a lot of layoffs in the last two or three months. Naturally, this also affects the morale and psyche of the employees in the automobile industry. When business is low, how can the employees be motivated? What are the problems that the face?

    When business is not doing well, the attrition level shoots up. People start leaving, just like passengers jump off a sinking ship.

    “When the business is going through a rough patch, some amount of attrition is generally welcomed to cut costs. But here also, you need to retain the top talent whom you have nurtured over the years,” says NV Balachandar, executive director-HR, Ashok Leyland.

    In situations like these, you really need to tell your employees that you care for them to keep them motivated. To do that, there are two very important components which can be used—recognition, and training and development.

    NV Balachandar

    “Clear and transparent communication is very important. The company should tell its employees what Plan B is going to be, in order to come out of these tough times”

    “At VE Vehicles, we allow employees to keep moving and changing their departments to give them an agile culture. Apart from that, during these tough times, we really believe in training and developing our employees,” shares Divya Mohan, head of HR for sales and marketing, VE Commercial Vehicles.

    According to Mohan, VE Commercial Vehicles has a leadership academy where its top leaders conduct classes for the employees on various topics. Other development activities also take place here. The Company also trains its employees for the future challenges, which keeps them engaged and motivated.

    Divya Mohan

    “At VE Vehicles, we allow employees to keep moving and changing their departments to give them an agile culture. Apart from that, during these tough times, we really believe in training and developing our employees”

    Talking to Rajeshwar Tripathi, CHRO, Mahindra & Mahindra, some new facts also came to light. In such troubled times, a large employee turnover is expected, but according to Tripathi, Mahindra is facing no such problems. In fact, the attrition has actually gone down.

    “You will not see attrition going up all the time. Our employees have faith in us and the management. They do not fear anything. We have faced such tough times in the past and we do not believe in laying off people,” asserts Tripathi.

    “Winning the trust of an employee is a long-term activity. When business is going downhill, the behaviour of your employees depends upon how you have treated them in the past,” adds Tripathi.

    Training and development, recognising talent and controlling attrition are all fine, but there is another important element that we need to look into—transparent communication. All the HR leaders who spoke to HRKatha emphasised on clarity and transparency in communication.

    “Clear and transparent communication is very important. The company should tell its employees what Plan B is going to be, in order to come out of these tough times,” explains Balachandar.

    Of course, transparent communication gives a clear picture to employees about what is going to happen. When sales is low and business is not going well, the morale of the employees really goes down, especially the sales department.

    Rajeshwar Tripathi

    “Winning the trust of an employee is a long-term activity. When business is going downhill, the behaviour of your employees depends upon how you have treated them in the past”

    “Employee connect is a very powerful tool. During tough times we have discussions and open houses to ensure clear communication with employees. We need to ensure that we do not create fear. Instead, we support the employees,” suggests Mohan.

    To survive the tough times, you need the support of your best employees. That can only happen if you build a strong relation with them over the years. Of course, small interventions during bad times will help, but your overall scorecard will play a bigger role. Recognising employees and developing them is a great tool, which can play a crucial role in such downturns.

    In addition, communication is the a key which holds your employees together.

    automobile industry Employee Engagement
    Share. LinkedIn Twitter Facebook
    mm
    Kartikay Kashyap | HRKatha

    A mass communication graduate Kartikay is a quick learner. A fresh bake, yet a prolific writer, he is always keen to learn and discover new things. He is an easy going gallivanted and just likes to chill out when he is not chasing news. He loves watching movies as well.

    Leave A Reply Cancel Reply

    3 × 4 =

    Related Posts

    Coal India introduces new uniform dress code for employees starting July

    June 13, 2025

    NDMC rolls out major employee-welfare measures

    June 13, 2025

    Bihar cabinet approves housing for women staff near workplaces

    June 13, 2025

    The truth about lies: Why résumé fraud has become an epidemic

    June 13, 2025

    QUICK HR INSIGHTS

    EDITOR'S PICKS

    The truth about lies: Why résumé fraud has become an epidemic

    June 13, 2025

    Redefining recognition: Why the future of HR leadership lies with rising stars

    June 12, 2025

    Social media is showing Indian workers what they’re missing—and they want change

    June 11, 2025

    When employees leave without notice, who bears the moral burden?

    June 10, 2025
    Latest Post

    L’Oréal expands employee share-ownership plan to boost engagement

    News June 13, 2025

    L’Oréal Groupe has announced the launch of its fifth global employee share ownership plan. This…

    From scrap to sustainability: GRP’s transformation story

    Quick HR Insights June 13, 2025

    In this powerful excerpt, Sanjeeb Lahiri, Chief Human Resources Officer at GRP Ltd, shares how…

    Coal India introduces new uniform dress code for employees starting July

    News June 13, 2025

    Coal India (CIL) is rolling out a new uniform dress code for its employees from…

    NDMC rolls out major employee-welfare measures

    News June 13, 2025

    In a bid to ensure employee welfare, the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) has approved…

    Asia's No.1 HR Platform

    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram LinkedIn WhatsApp Bluesky
    • Our Story
    • Partner with us
    • Career
    • Reach Us
    • Exclusive Features
    • Cover Story
    • Editorial
    • Dive into the Future of Work: Download HRForecast 2024 Now!
    © 2025 HRKatha.com
    • Disclaimer
    • Refunds & Cancellation Policy
    • Terms of Service

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.