|
|
1.
Vidyaavriksh:
Cultivating a future-ready workforce at HDFC ERGO
The insurance industry, grappling with a talent shortage and the rapid
pace of technological change, has found a solution in Vidyaavriksh, HDFC ERGO’s
comprehensive learning and development academy. The insurance industry, long
burdened by a dearth of skilled professionals and an aging workforce, is
confronting its talent crisis head-on. For years, the sector struggled to
attract young talent, leaving it vulnerable to the demands of a rapidly
evolving digital landscape. Yet, amidst this challenge, HDFC ERGO saw an
opportunity. The idea for Vidyaavriksh, the company’s ambitious learning and
development academy, was born from a deep understanding of the problem at hand.
HDFC ERGO, in collaboration with research partners, delved into the data,
conducting an extensive study that revealed glaring skill gaps—digital
illiteracy, poor English language proficiency, and a jarring disconnect between
academic training and corporate expectations. These insights laid the
groundwork for Vidyaavriksh, a programme designed not just to fill these gaps,
but to transform them into opportunities.
2.
Soft Skills: Need for
communication skills in an increasingly digital work environment
The
partnership will offer work-linked degree programmes and certifications. TeamLease
EdTech and Kerala Development and Innovation Strategic Council (K-DISC) are
coming together to improve the employability of the youth in Kerala. This
partnership of the learning and employability solution services company with
the Kerala government will help address the skill gaps and fulfil the skill
requirements to overcome the employability challenges in the state. A
Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed to this effect. This
collaboration will result in the designing and implementation of impactful
skill development via work-linked degree programmes and credit-linked diploma
and certifications, specifically designed to fulfil the needs of the state’s
economy. Through this partnership, the workforce of Kerala will be equipped
with skills required by the industry and gain from relevant internships and
apprenticeships.
3.
Telangana,
Corning to collaborate on skilling initiatives
1.
Anant
Garg elevated to VP-HR, urology & critical care, BD
Garg
has been associated with BD since 2019 when he joined as director-HR, India and
South Asia. Global medical technology company, BD has elevated Anant Garg to
the position of vice president-human resources, urology and critical care.
Garg’s association with BD began in November 2019, when he joined as
director-human resources, India and South Asia, based out of Gurgaon. A little
over two and a half years into this role, he was promoted to senior HR
director-global supply chain and Europe operations. This role saw him working
out of Vaud, Switzerland for over two years. Now, with this latest elevation,
Garg will be seen relocating to Georgia, US. An alumnus of XLRI Jamshedpur,
Anant Garg has spent a little less than two years with Accenture, as senior
analyst, human resources. In December of 2005, he joined Mercer Consulting, as
senior project leader (principal consulting), HR consulting. There, for over
five years, he was responsible for leading large and complex HR consulting
assignments across domains and industries.
2.
Shveta Arya to take over as MD, Cummins India.
Arya,
who has been associated with Cummins since 2016, and is presently business
head, power systems, will be elevated to the new role starting 1 September,
2024. Starting 1 September 2024, Shveta Arya—who is presently business head,
power systems, Cummins India—will be elevated to the role of managing director,
Cummins India. She will be stepping into the shoes of Ashwath Ram. This
elevation will not affect her current responsibilities, which she will continue
to shoulder at the power solutions company along with her new responsibilities.
The Board of Directors has also appointed her as an additional director, with
effect from 8 August, 2024.
3.
Radhika
Arora moves from Jakson Group to Isgec, as CHRO
Arora
has worked with BHEL and Sony in her two-decade old career. After spending over
four years at Jakson Group, Radhika Arora has moved to Isgec Heavy Engineering,
as chief human resource officer (CHRO). Having completed her BSc in maths,
statistics and computers, Arora did a PGDBM with specialisation in HR and
marketing, from MS Ramaiah Institute of Management, in 2004. She began her
professional journey as a consultant for four months, with Spectrum Placements.
Then came her stint with Bharat Heavy Electricals, where she spent over eight
years. Based out of Delhi, she administered the performance management system
for BHEL’s 12000-strong workforce. She also supervised the operation across all
phases of the system, troubleshooting, giving system clarifications to unit HR
and also coordinating with corporate IT for making design changes. She
contributed significantly to the implementation of new HR initiatives,
including High Potential Employees (HIPOs), succession planning, job rotation,
exit interview system, knowledge management, competency management – technical
and behavioural.
1.
Reinstate
illegally-terminated clerk with full benefits from date of termination:
Jharkhand HC
The
clerk from a Dhanbad school had been terminated by no fault of his in 1992
saying his appointment was invalid. Umesh Kumar Singh, a clerk who was
terminated from JKRR High School, Dhanbad, over three decades ago, was
reinstated with full benefits from the date of termination. The Jharkhand High
Court ruled. hat Singh was illegally terminated, by no fault of his, and
therefore, he should be reinstated and paid all dues for all the years that he
should have been in service, and that the same should be taken into account for
his retirement benefits too. Singh was terminated in 1992, three years after he
was appointed, as apparently his appointment was not officially sanctioned by
the district education officer of Dhanbad. Singh approached the High Court in
1993, following which the school was asked to reconsider Singh’s appointment.
However, his appeal was rejected. Therefore, Singh filed a writ petition,
following which the Court quashed the termination and asked the state to
reinstate the clerk.
2.
Amazon eyes big expansion
in Hyderabad
This
expansion is expected to reinforce Telangana's status as a premier hub for
cloud and data centre infrastructure in India.
Amazon is set to make substantial investments in expanding its data
centre facilities and workforce in Hyderabad. The decision comes after
discussions with Telangana’s leadership. The Telangana delegation, led by IT
and Industries Minister D Sridhar Babu, engaged with senior leaders from
Amazon, including Kerry Person, vice president, AWS Data Centre (planning and
delivery), to strengthen the company’s operations in the region. This expansion
is expected to reinforce Telangana’s status as a premier hub for cloud and data
centre infrastructure in India. As AWS continues to grow its cloud services in
the region, the state is likely to play a pivotal role in advancing India’s
digital economy goals.
3.
Vacancies
plague Madurai’s govt hospital; 527 unfilled roles.
These positions include roles for 152 nursing
assistants, 165 health workers and 93 hospital workers. A recent disclosure
through a series of Right to Information (RTI) queries has revealed that 527
positions remain unfilled at the Government Rajaji Hospital (GRH) in Madurai. These
positions include roles for 152 nursing assistants, 165 health workers and 93
hospital workers. The vacancies, uncovered by social activists, highlight a
significant staffing shortfall at one of southern Tamil Nadu’s largest medical
facilities. The RTI data indicates that while approximately 200
nursing-assistant positions were sanctioned on a contract basis at GRH, 152 of
these roles remain vacant. Similarly, of the sanctioned 227 hospital worker and
175 sanitary worker positions, 93 and 165 vacancies persist, respectively,
creating additional strain on the current staff.
1.
52%
women among graduates of The Leela’s LLDP Class of 2024
The latest batch of 27 management trainees is all ready to assume their
new roles as assistant managers after completing the 15-month long Leadership
Development Programme. It has been three years since The Leela Palaces, Hotels
and Resorts launched the Leela Leadership Development Programme (LLDP). The
hotel chain celebrated the gruaduating Class of 2024 recently at The Leela
Palace, New Delhi. Having completed the 15-month long LLDP programme, the
27 management trainees are now ready to commence duty as assistant managers. A
good 52 per cent of these trainees are women! The course is designed to
identify and groom the finest talent in the hospitality industry, shaping them
into the luxury leaders of tomorrow.
2.
TeamLease EdTech &
Kerala government to collaborate to improve employability
The
partnership will offer work-linked degree programmes and certifications. TeamLease
EdTech and Kerala Development and Innovation Strategic Council (K-DISC) are
coming together to improve the employability of the youth in Kerala. This
partnership of the learning and employability solution services company with
the Kerala government will help address the skill gaps and fulfil the skill
requirements to overcome the employability challenges in the state. A
Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed to this effect. This
collaboration will result in the designing and implementation of impactful
skill development via work-linked degree programmes and credit-linked diploma
and certifications, specifically designed to fulfil the needs of the state’s
economy. Through this partnership, the workforce of Kerala will be equipped
with skills required by the industry and gain from relevant internships and
apprenticeships.
3.
Telangana,
Corning to collaborate on skilling initiatives
An MoU has been signed between the Telangana government and Corning to
skill locals in the latest manufacturing and chemical engineering technologies
and make them globally competitive. 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.
1.
Mukul
Chopra moves to Transaction Solutions International, as CHRO
Chopra
was earlier CHRO, ConveGenius. After serving as chief human resources officer
(CHRO) at ConveGenius for more than two and a half years, Mukul Chopra has now
joined Transaction Solutions International (TSI) as CHRO. An engineering
graduate from Panjab Engineering College, Chopra completed an MBA in human
resources from Panjab University, in 1996 after working as an engineer with
Jindal Strips for two years. Armed with an MBA, he joined Essar Telecom as a
senior executive in May of 1996. Three years later, he moved to Airtel as
manager, where he stayed on for three years. In June of 2002, he was appointed
circle head-HR, Reliance Infocomm. Four years into this role, he took up the
position of assistant vice president, Reliance Retail. His next stop was
Huawei, in January of 2009, as head-HR, global technical sales, India branch.
He helped set up the Indian arm for global technical sales to support Huawei
technical sales operations globally.
2.
Quest Global appoints Peter Koo as chief leadership officer.
Koo
will oversee the leadership-development system to fuel succession planning and
people development. Quest Global, the global engineering services firm, has
appointed Peter Koo as chief leadership officer. Koo will be tasked with overseeing
the leadership- development system, which will fuel succession planning and
people development. Among other strategic priorities, Koo will be responsible
for creating a leadership-development engine, attracting talented leaders, advancing
diversity, equity and inclusion and strengthening workforce analytics. Koo
moves from Egon Zehnder, where he spent over 19 years, with his last-held
position being that of partner, financial services practice group, global head
of asset management practice.
3.
Abani
Kant Jha appointed CFO, Saatvik Solar
Jha
has been co-chairman, ASSOCHAM, since April 2024. Saatvik Solar, the Indian
solar PV module manufacturer has roped in Abani Kant Jha as its new chief
financial officer (CFO). Backed by more than 25 years of experience across
diverse industries, Jha will help bolster Saatvik Solar’s financial leadership
and drive its ambitious growth plans. His versatile career spans critical
sectors including telecom, retail, technology, and industrial manufacturing. Jha
was formerly group chief financial officer, Technology Company, working out of
India, Singapore, Canada, Dubai and the US. For over three years, he guided the
company through IPO preparations and helped it navigate intricate financial
landscapes. An alumnus of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India, Jha
also holds an MBA from from Manipal GlobalNxt University. From 1994 to 1998,
Jha worked as senior audit manager at Mazars in India. Four years later, he
joined PCH Inc. as CFO and head commercial-global distribution business,
working out of the US and India.
1.
US
manufacturer of EVs lays off 300 more after reducing 10% of workforce last year
To
cut costs, Lion Electric will also reduce product, adopting a batch-size
manufacturing approach. Lion Electric, the company whose electric trucks and
school buses are popular in the US and Canada, is looking at streamlining
operations and aligning costs with demand. As part of its endeavour to save
about $25 million annually, the electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer is letting
go 300 employees across the US and Canada, that is, 30 per cent of its
workforce. Last year, the firm had trimmed its workforce by 10 per cent. The
objective is to improve liquidity and progress faster towards profitability. Additionally,
the company will also reduce production, considering the low demand for
electric trucks. It will embrace a batch-size manufacturing model, that is,
produce the vehicles only on receipt of order.
2.
Salary delays at Byju’s
despite new funding
Former
employees have received a part of their salaries in February but nothing since,
despite working until April. Byju’s recently argued before the National
Companies Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) that Riju Raveendran, a director and
brother of founder Byju Raveendran, infused Rs 2,600 crore into the company to sustain
business operations and pay salaries to its 27,000 employees. Although this
move helped BYJU’S avoid bankruptcy proceedings, employees are still awaiting
the salaries that the funds were meant to cover. Several former employees,
according to a DH report, revealed that they had not received their salaries
for several months before leaving the company. Furthermore, the company still
owed other dues, including gratuity payments.
3.
Karnataka
HC: Reinstate employee removed after maternity leave.
After conceiving her second child, Chandbi Baligar
requested maternity leave, however, upon her return, she was informed that
another person had taken her position. In a landmark judgment, the Karnataka
High Court directed the state government to reinstate an outsourced female
employee who was dismissed after taking maternity leave. The HC ordered that
she continue working until a regular appointment is made. Chandbi Baligar from
Hirehadagali in Vijayanagara district was hired as a contract accountant at
Raitha Samparka Kendra (Kasaba) in Huvinahadagali in June 2014. Her employment
persisted beyond the initial year despite changes in contractors, with the new
agency continuing her salary payments without a fresh agreement.