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Saturday 28 January 2023

"Inter-collegiate ‘Spin-A-Yarn’- HR topics" Competition

   

Event Report
Title of the Event :
Student Centric (Club Activities)
In-charge Faculty :
Prof. Dr. Mrs. Merlyn Michael D'souza
Day :
Friday
Date :
20-Nov-2022
Time :
11:30 AM
Venue :
6th Floor, Seminar Hall 601
Audience (for whom conducted):
13 Intercollegiate students
Number of Finalists: 
 10
Topic :
"Inter-collegiate ‘Spin-A-Yarn’- HR topics" Competition
Organized by which Club :
HR Club



Winning HR Spin-A-Yarn HR Topics  :
1st Rank - HR Spin-A-Yarn Competition - It's A Tie! 
Click on Name below to view the winning speech


2nd Rank - HR Spin-A-Yarn Competition

Diya Shah, Malini Kishor Sanghvi College


3rd Rank - HR Spin-A-Yarn Competition - It's A Tie!  
Click on Name below to view the winning speech 






Winners receiving certificates collected by their friend/ relative from Mrs.  Sajita Thomas, Director-HR, India, Diebold Nixdorf 


1st Prize, for Saloni Gowda & Atharva Malekar

2nd Prize for Diya Shah

3rd prize, for Sachi Bangera and Ganesh Hariyan

HR Learning: 27 Jan, 2023

 1.

Bennett Coleman & Co. Ltd's 3 mantras for L&D programs

In conversation with Gaurika Tandon of BCCL and Minaxi Indra of upGrad for Business, we deep dive into what it takes to unlock role transformation and design impactful learning  journeys. Bennett Coleman & Co. Ltd (BCCL) has seen it all, from a VUCA (Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity, Ambiguity) to a BANI (Brittle, Anxious, Non-Linear, Incomprehensible) world. Completing almost 180 years, this enterprise was dedicated to the vision of growth helmed by a robust learning architecture. This is what led to their partnership with upGrad for Business, where together they launched a Learning Calendar, including Signature and Bespoke programs, rolled out to 700 employees across the brand, covering a diversity of roles and responsibilities. These skilling programs addressed both the challenges of learner adoption and engagement. By offering employees the convenience of choice and learning opportunities in varied formats, the outcome was personalised growth opportunities. L&D programs also had to be reimagined, keeping in mind the changing business landscape and the need for role transformation. In our exclusive one-of-a-kind multimedia flipbook in partnership with upGrad for Business, Amplifying Growth, Achieving Impact: Customer Success Stories, we explore further the journey of BCCL in achieving role transformation.

2.

Trends that will shape the future of work in the sustainability sector

 

With sustainability taking centre stage, corporates will have high demands for talent with specialist knowledge in domains such as regulatory, financial, and scientific standards governing the sphere, says Mathieu Zone, Vice President, HR and Communication, Bostik. Sustainability has become an important aspect for the world, given the challenges it faces, and businesses, across the spectrum, are also taking cognisance. 

In an interaction with People Matters, Mathieu Zone, the Vice President of Human Resources and Communication, Bostik, the adhesives solutions segment of the Arkema Group, discusses how the sustainability sector has evolved on the ‘future of work’ front, driven by a global eco-wakening, challenges faced by the sector in recruiting, retaining, and developing talent, and trends that shape the future of work in sustainability. Zone previously led talent development as Human Resources Director for Asia-Pacific (save China) at parent company Arkema, a global leader in specialty materials. He had joined Arkema 10 years ago, and held various positions within it in France, before being posted to Asia. Sustainability demands holistic views from the cradle to the grave on all corporate activities. In other words, employees with broad knowledge and open minds that are able to assess sustainability from upstream, through the corporate, to downstream. Capability to engage suppliers and customers alike will be highly sought after.

Within these perimeters, all ESG parameters could have an impact on the business viability. Corporates will have high demands for talent with specialist knowledge in domains such as regulatory, financial, and scientific standards governing the sphere of sustainability.

Lastly, there is a new generation of employees who are conscious citizens and are looking for meaning, empowerment and fulfillment at their workplace. They would like to be assured that their jobs are making an impact for the greater social good, along with their own personal welfare. What this means - there is a need to communicate how the sustainability space is evolving, and provide opportunities for people to embark on a truly exciting journey of change.

Considering the above, communication skills with all stakeholders, both external and internal, could significantly affect the success of any organisation. Ability to assimilate the different information and knowledge into concise and impactful communication would warrant a bright career.

3.

Is it the end of an era for traditional degrees? Leaders chime in at Davos

We've been stuck on the veneration of paper qualifications for far too long, said industry leaders and domain experts at last week's World Economic Forum meeting in Davos - it's time to move on to a more inclusive alternative. 80% of CEOs in the technology sectors do not believe college degrees are important, stated Hadi Partovi, CEO of Code.org as he and other thought leaders discussed the key to unlocking employment for all at this year's World Economic Forum gathering.

The discussion zoomed in on one fact: the importance of prioritising skills over traditional degrees offered by universities. Living in the age of the great resignation, or as some call it, the great reflection, has made the world rethink the relevance of the education system with respect to the needs and demands of the industry. According to business leaders and thought leaders, the current approach is not just outdated but also shuts out groups of people, including refugees and immigrants, who could otherwise be a potential boost to the workforce. Hence, the industry’s obsession with degrees is a hindrance in two ways. One, it limits the talent pool for employers. Two, it worsens the issue of post-pandemic global unemployment.

Jeff Maggioncalda, CEO of Coursera, hailed online learning as the “legacy of the pandemic” as it shattered the preconceived notion of place-based education. Also, it dismantled the reliability of jobs over degrees. As the Internet reaches the nooks and corners of the world, it is becoming possible, more than ever, to learn a fruitful skillset through micro-credentials irrespective of the background one belongs to. 

HR Movement: 27 Jan, 2023

1.

Aparna Dhingra gets regional role at BMW

Aparna Dhingra takes on global role as head of region for BMW Group in Asia Pacific, Africa, and Middle East. Aparna Dhingra has been promoted to head of region (HR) – Asia Pacific, Africa, Middle East, BMW Group after spending six years at BMW India as its head of HR and administration. Dhingra has been an HR professional for over two decades. Before joining BMW she had worked predominantly in the tech industry, working in professional services, management services and other tech services. After completing her post graduation at the Symbiosis Centre for Management & Human Resource Development (SCMHRD), Pune, she joined CSC as its PCMM (people capability maturity model) lead and HR generalist. Her longest tenure, 10 years, was spent at Genpact where she oversaw the company’s consumer goods, retail, and life sciences vertical as its HR lead in India.

2.

Tarun NP Varma moves from Shell to TCP, as global CHRO

With over two decades of experience, Varma has worked with big names such as Vodafone, Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages and Nestle. Tarun NP Varma, who was vice president – HR, global technology division, Shell, has now joined Tata Consumer Products (TCP) as global CHRO. This alumnus of the Tata Institute of Social Sciences, started his corporate journey with Nestle, as manager – corporate HR. Two years later, he moved to Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages as associate HR manager. Three years into this role, he was elevated to area human resources manager (sales & factory HR). He kept climbing up the ladder till he became associate vice president – HR (commercial, strategic HR projects). The year 2012 saw him taking up the role of associate vice president – performance, rewards and recognition, Vodafone. By the time he moved on from the telecommunications provider in 2015, he was VP – performance, rewards and recognition. It was in 2015 that he joined Shell as vice president – HR, Shell Group of Companies, India. By the time he completed seven years at the energy company, he was vice president- HR, global technology division. He had the opportunity to be part of a 3,000-strong workforce comprising members from 70 nationalities, working out of 90 locations. Varma calls his assignment at Shell “THE front row ticket to the future of energy systems”.

3. Geetika Mehta is Ananta Capital’s new group CHRO

With about 17 years of experience backing her, Mehta has been associated with ZebPay, OYO, Urban Ladder and Mondelez International in her professional journey. Ananta Capital has roped in Geetika Mehta as group chief human resource officer. An alumna of XLRI, Jamshedpur, Mehta began her HR journey with Mondelez International in 2006, as HRBP – corporate functions. Less than a year and a half later, she took on the role of head – HR at Puma Group, where she spent almost seven years. Her next stop was Urban Ladder, where she joined as vice president and head – HR, in 2015. After a two-year long tenure, based out of Bengaluru, Karnataka, she moved on to OYO. Her stint there as vice president and head – business HR, lasted less than two years.

HR News: 27 Jan, 2023

1.

12,000 people to lose jobs at Alphabet, Google

In an email to the employees, Sundar Pichai took full responsibility for the actions that led to the layoffs. Alphabet Inc., the parent company of Google, announced plans to reduce its workforce by 6 per cent. This means that around 12,000 people working at the Company will lose their jobs. Impacted employees in the US have already been informed but those in the other countries will be informed in due course of time, keeping in mind the local laws and practices. In an email to the employees, Sundar Pichai, CEO, Alphabet, wrote, “We’ve undertaken a rigorous review across product areas and functions to ensure that our people and roles are aligned with our highest priorities as a company. The roles we’re eliminating reflect the outcome of that review. They cut across Alphabet, product areas, functions, levels and regions.” In the US, employees have been given a notice period of 60 days, and they will be paid full salary for this interim period. In addition, the Company will also pay a severance package which includes 16 weeks or 4 months’ salary. Besides, employees will get a salary for two weeks for every additional year they have spent Google. Affected employees will also be paid bonuses for 2022 and the remaining vacation time. The Company has also promised to offer six months of healthcare, job placement services, and immigration support for those affected. However, for employees outside the US including India, local laws and practices will be followed for the severance package.

 

2.

Wayfair to sack 5% of its workforce

The online furniture retailer to lay off 1,000 employees in an effort to cut operational cost. Wayfair has announced plans to lay off 1,000 employees in an effort to cut operational cost. The decision comes after the online furniture retailer announced in August that it would be laying off around 870 employees, due to a decrease in demand for furniture and home decor following the pandemic. The shares of Wayfair have dropped by about 75% in the last 12 months, despite the fact that the company’s income had risen dramatically in the early phase of the pandemic when US consumers were spending money on home improvements. As reported by the Wall Street Journal, the decision will affect around 5 per cent of its workforce. This makes Wayfair the latest company to join a growing list of American businesses including financial institutions, major software companies, and food delivery services, which have been forced to let go of employees due to economic concerns.

Wayfair hired more employees during the pandemic to expand its warehouse and customer service teams. By the end of 2021, the company had 16,681 full-time equivalent employees, a significant increase from the 12,100 it had at the end of 2018. As per the company’s documents, the number of customer service employees more than doubled during this period, reaching around 4,900 workers.

 

3.

General Motors CEO and executives sued by employee union for failure to pay court

Workers claim no compensation paid despite court ruling in favor of workers, union names CEO Mary Barra and other executives for contempt of court. The employee union of the General Motors plant in Maharashtra’s Talegaon has filed a lawsuit against the company’s global CEO, Mary Barra, and other executives, due to their failure to pay court-ordered compensation to sacked factory workers. The Pune Industrial Court ordered that 50 percent of the salary be paid to 1,086 retrenched workers from April 7, 2022 until the case was decided. However, the company challenged the order in the Bombay High Court, and later moved the Supreme Court against the order, despite the High Court ruling in favor of the workers in September.

The workers have claimed that no compensation has been paid to them thus far, and the union has named Barra and other executives for contempt of court. The carmaker is said to owe the workers around $3 million in wages based on the industrial court’s order.

Monday 23 January 2023

HR Learning: 20 Jan, 2023

1.

Transform India Inc's bott m line: Unlock $300 billion through Communication Fitness

As we embrace the future of work, organisations must invest heavily in improving their collective communication fitness levels to reduce cost & improve productivity. Communication fitness is critical to business growth and can cost billions of dollars when overlooked. After surveying 400 companies with 100,000 employees, David Grossman’s report (2016) titled ‘The Cost of Poor Communication’ points out the stark reality of how companies lose $62.4 million every year as a result of inadequate communication.  Employers, corporate executives and educators also agree to this business cost. In a report pioneered by Salesforce, 86% of the workforce in these job roles believe that ineffective communication is the underlying cause of workplace failures. In addition, a study by Economic Intelligence Unit found that poor communication fitness, as we call it, is the reason behind 44% of failed projects, 31% of low employee morale, 25% of missed performance goals and 18% of lost sales at the workplace.  Communication fitness is vital to enhance collaboration and productivity amongst a diversified workforce while scaling up rapidly in a highly unpredictable business environment. Moreover, communication is a life skill that is urgent in rising corporations with a multi-geographic presence. This is only one of the many reasons why communication fitness has become a critical area of investment.  Business enterprises are increasingly facing the following six hurdles due to the lack of adequate L&D investment in communication fitness: Efficiency Loss, Weak Workforce Collaboration, Stretched Management Bandwidth, Unclear Messaging on Brand Equity, Missed Opportunities for Growth, Gap in Global Business Strategy. Fast-growing companies with a multi-geographic presence will need to invest in communication fitness if they want to heighten efficiency and strengthen workforce collaboration and brand equity while empowering a solid leadership team. One of the greatest challenges in a disruptive business landscape is the missed opportunities for growth, which applies equally to your organisation and your people. With initiatives designed toward personalised coaching for communication fitness, organisations will truly unlock their growth potential as they operate in local and global markets with a mixed workforce and flexible working models. 

 

2.

Davos 2023: Immigration reform, reskilling, upskilling in green growth essential for future of work, say WEF leaders

The unrest in the global job market can only be ceased by sound reforms and by reskilling and upskilling the existing workforce, said leaders at World Economic Forum. Evolution is fundamental and it keeps pushing mankind to think about the future. While we work on making the most out of our present, we also continuously hustle for a brighter and smarter tomorrow. 

The future of work was the talking point of one of the panel discussions at the ongoing World Economic Forum happening in Davos, Switzerland. Leaders José María Álvarez-Pallete, Gilbert Fossoun Houngbo, Pamela Coke-Hamilton and Martin J Walsh highlighted factors vital to future-proof the workforce. We know the pandemic changed the way we work now and will ever work again. As rightly described by the Chief Executive Officer of Telefónica, Álvarez-Pallete, “things that were supposed to happen five years from now, happened in the middle of the pandemic.” This resulted in an altered labour market. We saw millions of job cuts globally and a complete evaporation of some positions.  Hence, the question arises, will we ever go back to the way the job market used to be? The Director General of the International Labour Organisation, Houngbo, believes yes we will. He said, “The world will go back in terms of work that we have lost. On the other hand, I don’t think we will ever go back in terms of the way we organised the industry, such as working remotely.”  The United States Secretary of Labour, Walsh, resonated with the Director General and emphasised the need for immigration reform and reskilling and upskilling the workforce. 

“While we are already fighting inflation, the next bigger threat can be, not having enough workers. In fact, forget the jobs being created; there are jobs available right now in the USA that we don't have enough people for. America has been a country that always depends on immigrants. That’s why the need of the hour is immigration reform and reskilling and upskilling of the existing workforce,” said Martin J Walsh.

 

3.

Skills will be the currency of the new workplace: Cornerstone CEO Himanshu Palsule

 

 

To stay competitive, organisations must strive to retain their top talent while empowering their employees to consistently develop new skills so they can respond and adapt to changing environments, says Himanshu Palsule, CEO, Cornerstone OnDemand. A regular turnover is not a very welcome development for companies but a contributing factor to the phenomenon is that employees don’t see opportunities to grow their skills and their careers at the current jobs within their present companies.

Amid today’s dynamic workforce landscape, it is clear that if organisations want to stay competitive, they must retain their top talent and empower their employees to consistently develop new skills so they can respond and adapt to changing environments.

Himanshu Palsule, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Cornerstone OnDemand, a specialist in adaptive cloud-based HR software solutions, says organisations need to align their purpose and goals with the personalised skills development of their employees.

“Upon joining Cornerstone, I went on a listening tour, visited six countries, and over 60 different customers. Since then, I have been to more countries around the world and spoken to hundreds of organisations about how to solve talent and learning issues. From these conversations, one thing is quite clear: skills have become the new workplace currency,” Palsule says.

HR Movement: 20 Jan, 2023

 1.

TIAA GBS India appoints Hema Priya Sukumar as Director, Employee Relations & Wellness

TIAA GBS India ropes in Hema Priya Sukumar as the Director of Employee Relations & Wellness. Sukumar brings 15+ years of diverse experience across fields like IT services and energy industry. Before joining TIAA GBS India, Sukumar was associated with many organisations like HCL, Accenture, General Electric, and Shell, in India. At TIAA GBS India, she will be in charge of managing TIAA India’s employee relations and wellness programmes, and will also be involved in employee engagement, ensuring HR compliance, and handling risk and governance issues. In her previous stint with Shell India, Sukumar served as the Employee Relation/Industrial Relation advisor for more than four years. Under her command, she led various activities like employee relations, people engagement portfolio and inclusion, diversity and equity function, supported by a cross functional team of 15 members. Her longest stint was with Accenture, where she served as the people advisor specialist. She joined the company in August 2011 and stayed there for a good five years. After her successful stint with Accenture, Sukumar moved to GE, serving as the lead HR manager for almost two years.

 

2.

Anushree Singh returns to Avery Dennison as HR Director-EMEA, apparel solutions

Singh moves from AkzoNobel, where she was global project manager – EVP. Anushree Singh, who had last served as director – HR, label & graphic materials, South Asia at Avery Dennison from 2017 to 2019, before joining AkzoNobel in July 2019, is now back at Avery Dennison. This time, she has joined as HR director – EMEA, apparel solutions. An alumna of Indian Institute of Planning and Management, Singh started her HR journey with Standard Chartered Bank as associate manager – HR back in 2005. In 2007, she joined Xerox as deputy manager and had moved up to senior manager level by 2010. Her next stop was Aircel, where she joined as manager – HR in 2010, to support talent acquisition at a national levelA year later, she joined Aditya Birla Group’s Pulp & Fibre Business, as assistant general manager – HR. After a successful stint of almost three years, she moved on to Avery Dennison, as HR business partner, commercial and & enabling functions, South Asia, in 2014. By 2017, she had become the director – HR, label & graphic materials, South Asia.

 

3. Pine Labs ropes in Srinivasan J as head – HR services

Srinivasan, who carries three decades of experience, has moved from Diageo, where he was VP-HR operations. After over six successful years with Diageo, as VP-HR operations, Diageo Business Services India, Srinivasan J has joined Pine Labs as head – HR services. With this new assignment, Srinivasan will continue to work out of Bengaluru, Karnataka, putting his skills in HR transformation, global HR operations, HR systems, change management and people management to good use. Having started his HR journey in 1992, as personnel officer, Elbee Express, Srinivasan joined Hutchison Max Telecom Orange in three years’ time. He worked with Hutchison Max as assistant manager – HR, for over five years. In 2000, he joined Concio as manager – HR, based out of Santa Clara, US, for a little over a year. He moved to Vodafone in 2001, as manager – resourcing, Mumbai circle and corporate HR. By 2003, he was elevated to head of HR (rewards and benefits + generalist HR ). Five years into this role, he was elevated to head of HR (rewards and benefits + generalist HR ). Five years into this role, he was again promoted to look after HR transformation, as head of HR shared services. By the time he moved on from Vodafone, he was AVP- human resources. His almost 15-year long tenure at Vodafone was probably the longest stint of his career. It was in 2016 that Srinivasan joined Diageo as senior general manager – HR operations, Diageo India. About two and a half years into this assignment, he was elevated to the position of head- HR operations, Budapest, Diageo Kft, based out of Hungary.

HR News: 20 Jan, 2023

1.

Will healthcare recruiters, HR specialists be in demand in 2023?

As per the ‘Jobs on the Rise’ list, these are amongst the job titles that have grown rapidly over the past five years. During and post -pandemic, the jobs market underwent drastic changes. For those who are wondering about the future of their careers or are seeking a career change, the ‘2023 Jobs on the Rise’ list offer some insights. In the field of human resources, the job titles that have grown real fast in India as per LinkedIn’s list, are as follows: Healthcare recruiters, Talent acquisition partners, Human resource specialists, and Credentialing specialists.

 

2.

Is Netflix paying $385,000 to a flight attendant?

It appears the streaming giant is looking for a trained professional well versed with cabin and passenger safety, as well as aircraft emergency evacuation. If you are a person trained in cabin and passenger safety and capable of handling aircraft emergency evacuation, then Netflix has just the right role for you. The role is that of a flight attendant, based in San Jose, California. The job will entail on-ground duty along with travel within and outside the US. The selected candidate may be offered up to $385,000 (Rs 3 crore) a year! The final remuneration will be determined basis the skills and experience level of the candidate. Netflix’s job listing says the ideal candidate should be a self-motivated person capable of making independent judgements and possess exceptional customer service skills. The role will require the candidate to work on a super midsize jet. The Company clarifies that the salary offered for such a role in the market is in the range of $60,000-$385,000 in total and this is in line with Netflix’s compensation philosophy. The selected candidates should hold a certificate from the Federal Aviation Administration and may be required to attend meetings in Burbank.

 

3.

Two 12-hour strikes by UK nurses disrupt health care system

On Wednesday UK nurses went on strike to protest for higher pay causing stress on the already strained public healthcare system in the UK. On January 18, 2023, a large number of nurses in the UK went on strike to protest for higher pay. This is the latest in a series of strikes that have been ongoing,  causing stress on the already strained public healthcare system in the UK. On Wednesday and Thursday two 12-hour strikes affected almost a quarter of England’s  hospitals and clinics. Thousands of appointments and procedures are likely to be postponed, however emergency care and cancer treatment will continue. In recent months, to demand higher pay amid the crisis of rising cost-of-living, nurses, ambulance crews, train drivers, airport baggage handlers, border staff, driving instructors, bus drivers and postal workers have all walked off their jobs. The inflation rate in the United Kingdom reached a peak of 11.1 per cent in October, due to an increase in energy and food prices. It then decreased slightly to 10.5 per cent in December. 

Saturday 14 January 2023

HR Learning: 13 Jan, 2023

1.

We are promoting talent development & internal talent mobility to retain talent: Mohammed Rizwan, Head HR, Reverie

"We run the organisation with absolute transparency, keeping all employees in the loop, and also giving them a say in decisions that could affect them as individuals, as well as the company as a whole," said Mohammed Rizwan, Senior Vice President, Head HR at Reverie.

Hiring the right talent and fostering a Hybrid Work Environment in startups and SMEs can be challenging. Lack of resources, traditional practices and high attrition rate are some common roadblocks these companies continue to face. 

Mohammed Rizwan, Senior Vice President, Head HR at Reverie on being interviewed, discusses how the fast-growing startup is hiring and managing tech talent. Reverie Language Technologies is a growing startup with 190 professionals who aim to create a digital space that every Indian can explore, benefit from, and enjoy. 

Here are some excerpts from the interview:

How have you updated your hiring policy in response to the shifting talent priorities?   

A comprehensive hiring policy with a proper process helps us to create a solid framework for all recruitment decisions in our company.  

Reverie’s ‘Hiring Policy’ revolves around three questions that help us to identify the purpose of what we are trying to achieve, such as; 

·       What is the purpose or role to be played by the newly hired employee?

·       How will the hired talent contribute to the success of the company as an individual and as part of a team?

·       What company values are reflected in the person during the hiring process? 

We are constantly expanding our existing talent pool to bring in new ideas and skill sets that will complement our vision of language equality on the Internet.

For the period 2021-2022, we have hired nearly 70 new employees to strengthen our product and R&D team. For the current and coming financial year, we intend to hire up to 50 more candidates. 

What are some key skills you plan to hire for the year 2022-2023? 

At the moment we are focusing on strengthening our technical and engineering team, as we intend to invest time and resources in research and development. Some of the top profiles we are looking for are related to client-facing roles, product development, R&D, and backend technical support to train our existing machines.

How are you retaining employees?

When it comes to employee management, our employees are not micro-managed and have complete freedom at work. We regularly conduct an objective-based performance appraisal that helps us as a company and the employee as an individual recognise their position and growth in the company.

How has Reverie embraced and adapted to the hybrid model that most companies in IT currently follow? What's working?

At the moment we are fully functional with a hybrid model that supports our teams by working two days a week from the office and three days from home. Our employees are quite aware of their responsibilities and take ownership of any tasks and responsibilities delegated. We strongly encourage a healthy work-life balance, which makes our employees happier and more productive at their work. In a nutshell, the pandemic has brought many changes to us as an organisation and as individuals. We have learned to take the good with the bad, and we can confidently say that our team has learned to become self-reliant, self-managing, and self-sufficient.

How are you dealing with the high turnover rate in the industry?

Staff turnover in the IT industry is a universal scene today. We at Reverie do not encourage retaining employees by making counter-offers and allowing retention bonuses. If someone decides to move for the money, we allow them to move on. We retain employees looking to grow, and money follows when they grow. We keep in perspective that employees who keep rolling from one organisation to another based on money cannot be satisfied in the long run.

On the contrary, we mitigate turnover by offering professional development opportunities within the organisation. We offer the possibility to change roles within teams. 

We also open the doors to freshers straight out of college and allow them to make a mark in the industry. We hire and train them to fit our requirements. 

2.

The art of perfection: SS Rajamouli’s journey into making RRR

 

While the East and the West are lost in the magic of RRR, we can’t help but look at the director, SS Rajamouli who has been known to strive for perfection with each of his films, including the pre-Independence fictional story. The maverick filmmaker, SS Rajamouli, who has brought home a Golden Globe (for best original song) with his magnum opus RRR, is the talk of the town today. While people in India have always been ardent fans of his films, including MagadheeraEega and Baahubali, the West is going bonkers only now, with the 49-year-old being named best director by the New York Film Critics Circle. In the weeks to come, Indians will be waiting with bated breath as there are murmurs that the film could be poised to receive attention in numerous categories as the Academy Awards nominations will be unveiled. 

The director, who has won many prestigious domestic accolades in his 20-year-long career is touted to be a perfectionist at work. But Rajamouli has spoken extensively in several interviews about the tag and how he only tries to bring perfection to his films even though he realises that nothing is perfect in life. In one of his interviews, he had shared, "People term me as a perfectionist because I take so much time (to make a film) but I am far from it. I would like everything to be perfect. You can get closer to perfect but nothing can ever be perfect.”

3.

HR trends in 2023 that will push the envelope even further

 

While 2021 and 2022 saw HR rebuild from the ground up to establish its new position, 2023 will see HR pushing the envelope even further. Since the Covid-19 pandemic struck, we have seen an upheaval of organisations and legacy work structures, starting with the first transition towards work from anywhere (WFA) and continuing through the Great Reopening, which was immediately followed by the Great Resignation and skills shortages. Numerous innovations have changed HR in a myriad of ways during the same time, aiding the shift from traditional to modern HR management.

While 2021 and 2022 saw HR rebuild from the ground up to establish its new position, 2023 will see HR pushing the envelope even further. Taking into account significant demographic shifts, technological advancements, and accelerating economic and sociocultural changes that we have seen, these are the four major HR trends one can expect in 2023: Rise in HR Technology, Hybrid is here to stay, Increased focus on DE&I, Reskilling/Upskilling will shoot up!

HR Movement: 13 Jan, 2023

 1.

Welspun Corp appoints Kumaar Priyaranjan as the CHRO

 

Priyaranjan comes with rich experience of over 30 years across a range of industries including hospitality, transportation, engineering, consulting, and pharmaceuticals. On January 4, 2023, Kumaar Priyaranjan was appointed as the chief human resource officer of Welspun Corp, a welded line pipe manufacturer and the flagship company of Welspun Group. Welspun Group is an Indian multinational conglomerate, headquartered in Mumbai. It has diverse businesses in line pipes, textiles, Infrastructure, and steel. It does business with 50 countries and has a distribution network in 32 countries, including the US, Canada, the UK, and Australia. Priyaranjan has extensive experience in human resources and industrial relations, with a career spanning over 30 years across a range of industries including hospitality, transportation, engineering, consulting, and pharmaceuticals. He has expertise in managing diversity, developing long-term people strategies, and contributing to organizational growth. He will be based at the head office in Mumbai and will report to the managing director and CEO, Vipul Mathur.

 

2.

Forbes SVP promoted to CHRO: CEO Mike Federle

A Forbes employee since 2020, Ali Intres, the new CHRO at Forbes made a formidable impact in her previous role as SVP, helping better employee experience at the organisation. Forbes announces Ali Intres as their new chief human resources officer, as reported by Forbes CEO Mike Federle. In her new role, she is expected to lead the HR department at Forbes, taking charge of recruitment, training and development, benefits administration, HR systems, culture and inclusion, and more. Intres has been at Forbes for almost three years, starting off as its senior vice president, Human Resources in early 2020. She has worked in numerous HR leadership roles across many organizations over her 25-year career. Starting off as a human resources associate at Worth Magazine, she climbed up the ranks and moved to Time Inc., where she spent 8 years as the vice president HR. She has since worked at Digitas, where she spent four years as its Senior Vice President, Talent. She completed her MS in Organizational Psychology at Teachers College at Columbia University in 1997. A Forbes article cites her experience in media and advertising as the key reasons behind her promotion, stating that it will help her propel Forbes’ people-first culture.

 

3. Jindal Stainless commits to Net Zero with appointment of its first Chief Sustainability Officer

Jindal Stainless commits to Net Zero with appointment of its first Chief Sustainability Officer. Taking another step towards achieving its Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) goals, Jindal Stainless has introduced a senior position of Chief Sustainability Officer (CSO). Mr Kalyan Kumar Bhattacherjee has been appointed as the Company’s first CSO. Mr Bhattacherjee will be responsible for leading Jindal Stainless’ sustainability initiatives, including efforts to decarbonise and eventually reduce the carbon emissions for its current and future capacity expansion plans with the goal to achieve the Company’s Net Zero by 2050. Commenting on the appointment, Managing Director, Jindal Stainless, Abhyuday Jindal, said, “The creation of CSO position at Jindal Stainless is a step towards setting the road for sustainable excellence in business and beyond. As a responsible Corporate that is committed to transitioning to sustainable manufacturing, we have consciously undertaken steps to reduce our carbon footprint. We reduced ~1.4 lakh tonnes of CO2 in FY22 through various initiatives. From investing in Renewable Energy, Green Hydrogen production to introducing EVs at our manufacturing plants, we are continuously building an ecosystem that supports our Environmental, Social, and Governance goals.” Talking about his new role, Chief Sustainability Officer, Jindal Stainless, Mr Kalyan Kumar Bhattacherjee said, “Sustainability has been at the forefront of Jindal Stainless’ operations and expansion plans since the beginning. We are India’s first stainless steel Company to install a Green Hydrogen Plant to manufacture stainless steel. We are continuously investing in low Carbon technologies, recycling process, digitalization and process upgradation for energy efficiency projects. I am thankful to the Company for entrusting me with this responsibility as we move to a sustainable future.” Mr Bhattacherjee has been associated with Jindal Stainless for over 15 years now. Prior to his new role in Jindal Stainless, he was the Vice President-Energy & ESG in the Company. As the Vice President-Energy & ESG, he has led initiatives of Enterprise ESG transformation, carbon neutrality in steel manufacturing, decarbonisation pathways, and sustainability. Overall, Mr Bhattacherjee has around three decades of experience in the steel industry.

HR News: 13 Jan, 2023

1.

Stitch Fix reduces its workforce by 20% to manage economic challenges

Katrina Lake, founder, Stitch Fix, informed employees on Thursday that she would be returning to the position of CEO.  On Thursday, Stitch Fix announced that CEO Elizabeth Spaulding would be leaving the company and that it would be laying off 20% of its salaried employees due to economic challenges. The decision was made due to the company’s struggles with low sales, a declining customer base, and a reduced market value. The online retailer of personalized clothing subscriptions also announced that it would be shutting down some of its operations, including a distribution centre located in Salt Lake City. Reportedly, Katrina Lake, founder of Stitch Fix, informed employees on Thursday that she would be returning to the position of CEO. Lake mentioned in her blog post, “I will be stepping in as interim CEO and leading the search process for our next CEO. Despite the challenging moment we are in right now, the board and I still deeply believe in the Stitch Fix business, mission and vision.”

 

2.

Crypto lender Genesis reduces its workforce by 30%

Unprecedented industry challenges have forced Genesis to reduce their headcount globally. These measures are part of the company’s efforts to move their business forward. On Thursday, cryptocurrency trading company Genesis Global Trading laid off a significant portion of its employees, according to a statement given to CoinDesk. The company is reported to have let go of approximately 30% of its workforce, bringing its employee total down to 145. As per CoinDesk, Genesis Global Trading has laid off a significant number of employees, according to a spokesperson for the cryptocurrency trading firm. This move follows a letter that was sent to clients on Wednesday, in which the company mentioned that it would be ‘reducing costs and driving efficiencies’ during a difficult time for crypto firms. Reportedly, the subsidiary of Digital Currency Group (which is also the parent company of CoinDesk), has been affected by the recent market collapse caused by the failure of Sam Bankman-Fried’s FTX exchange. The company also informed its clients that it is currently working on a solution to address the issues at its lending unit and will need more time to implement it.

 

3.

Wells Fargo fires VP for peeing on woman on Air India flight

Shankar Mishra, who was inebriated, peed on a 70-year old female passenger. Shankar Mishra, the vice president of Wells Fargo, India, was fired following his misconduct aboard an Air India flight. On 26 November, 2022,Shankar Mishra was accused of urinating on a female co-passenger, a senior citizen in her seventies, in the business class of an Air India flight from New York to New Delhi, in an  inebriated state. When the incident and the identity of the accused were made public, Mishra’s employer, Wells Fargo, terminated his employment. Mishra was the vice president of the India office of the California-based financial services company, before being fired. “Wells Fargo holds employees to the highest standards of professional and personal behaviour and we find these allegations deeply disturbing. This individual has been terminated from Wells Fargo. We are cooperating with law enforcement and ask that any additional inquiries be directed to them, ” Says the statement issued by Wells Fargo in this regard. On 6 January, 2023, Campbell Wilson, CEO of Air India, gave instructions to the airline’s staff that henceforth, they should immediately inform the authorities of any unlawful behaviour on board, even if the situation at that point of time seems to have been resolved. The airline has been widely criticised by the public, netizens, as well as the DGCA for the casual manner in which the incident was handled.

Friday 6 January 2023

HR Learning: 6 Jan, 2023

 1.

Pearson to acquire workforce assessment provider PDRI for $190 million

Acquisition to significantly expand Pearson's services to US federal government. London-based education publisher Pearson has entered into an agreement with SHL Group to acquire workforce assessment services provider Personnel Decisions Research Institutes, LLC (PDRI).

PDRI has significant expertise in providing assessment solutions to the US federal government, one of the largest employers in the US with more than 4 million employees. 

The consideration for PDRI represents an enterprise value of $190 million, which will be funded from Pearson's existing cash and available liquidity. 

Completion of the acquisition is expected to occur during H1 2023 subject to regular closing conditions, including any required regulatory filings or approvals. 

This acquisition further expands Pearson's portfolio, accelerating the company's strategy to capture new market opportunities and grow its presence with large employers.  

PDRI will join Pearson's assessment & qualifications division. Within this division, Pearson and PDRI already have an established, strong working relationship, partnering to deliver high quality assessments to federal jobseekers at Pearson VUE test centers.

2.

BetterManager raises $16 million in series A funding

The San Francisco-based startup plans to use the fresh funds to accelerate its efforts to scale its virtual leadership development solution. Leadership development platform BetterManager has announced the completion of a $16 million series A funding round led by Education Growth Partners.

BetterManager’s seed funder, Polar Capital Group, also contributed to the round. The San Francisco-based startup plans to use the fresh funds to accelerate its efforts to scale its virtual leadership development solution. Founding in 2017, BetterManager has supported the growth and development of people leaders–from new managers to senior executives–at over 200 organisations around the world through a combination of 1:1 executive-level coaching, collaborative group learning models (such as group coaching and training), practical e-learning tools, and actionable assessments. “BetterManager highly integrated model has demonstrated consistently that it can enhance the quality of leadership across all levels of an organisation, all as it improves retention of managers and their direct reports.

3.

One way to turn the tide of employee retention

There's a surprising link between skill development opportunities and job satisfaction. Jeremy Braidish, Chief People Officer of Cyara, shares some ways of boosting skilling and thereby talent retention. Organisations across the globe are facing the challenge of skilled labour shortages. Hiring new employees can be a significant financial and administrative investment that takes time, so prioritising the retention of existing staff has become a high priority. Reducing staff turnover not only saves money but also helps foster a positive company culture and develops future-focused thinking.

However, according to PwC’s 2022 Workforce Hopes & Fears Survey, four in ten employees in Asia Pacific are not satisfied with their job and one in five intend to switch to a new employer in the next 12 months. 

While the benefits are undeniable, less than half (45%) of APAC companies are upskilling workers, and 42% are worried their employer will not teach them the technology skills they need. These findings suggest a significant disparity between what employees want, and what they are getting. Shift towards non location-specific or remote work arrangements means companies need to create training programs that can work well anywhere. A big challenge for employers is the ability to coordinate and balance virtual and in-person training, ensuring both types of training are invested in appropriately and deliver the same quality outcomes. Companies need to be careful not to overlook those who work fully remotely.