News: Weekly Roundup (Aug 26-31): News you cannot miss

Strategic HR

Weekly Roundup (Aug 26-31): News you cannot miss

As economic slowdown threatens to envelop India, honchos like RPG Enterprises chairman Harsh Goenka, Nitin Paranjpe, till recently Hindustan Unilever CEO, Saugata Gupta, CEO of Marico, Rupa Kudva, MD and CEO of Crisil, Richard Rekhy, CEO, KPMG India, are intentionally engaging with rank and file. It is forcing employees of private companies to work on the weekends. Auto companies, hardest hit by the slowdown as it forced out many workers, are trying their best to keep up employee morale with initiatives like communicating the state of business to talks by motivational speakers, from skilling programmes to community service initiatives, from reassigning new projects to rewards.

As economic slowdown threatens to envelop India, honchos like RPG Enterprises chairman Harsh Goenka, Nitin Paranjpe, till recently Hindustan Unilever CEO, Saugata Gupta, CEO of Marico, Rupa Kudva, MD and CEO of Crisil, Richard Rekhy, CEO, KPMG India, are intentionally engaging with rank and file. It is forcing employees of private companies to work on the weekends. Auto companies, hardest hit by the slowdown as it forced out many workers, are trying their best to keep up employee morale with initiatives like communicating the state of business to talks by motivational speakers, from skilling programmes to community service initiatives, from reassigning new projects to rewards.

Mid-level managers across India Inc are feeling ‘trapped’ in existing roles in an economy with few salary hikes, rare promotions, limited lateral openings and growing spectre of job losses. However, the recent trend across companies shows that under-30s continue to land corner office jobs.

At Infosys, Ashok Vemuri, director and head of Americas and global head of manufacturing and engineering services has resigned, while Rohan Murty, son of Infosys chairman NR Narayana Murthy, will soon be designated as vice president.

German stationery maker Faber-Castell Aktiengesellschaft has filed a case against its Indian joint venture partner with the Company Law Board (CLB), alleging mismanagement.

Experts have warned that employees who work for more than 50 hours a week may be harming their mental and physical health. Researchers from Kansas State University found a preliminary link between workaholics and reduced physical and mental well-being. In Aon Hewitt’s 'Employee Preference Study 2013', employees listed flexible work arrangements along with additional fixed pay and higher incentives as the top three preferred benefits.

Appointments: Drug firm Eli Lilly and Company India appointed Edgard Olaizola as its MD for operations in India and Sri Lanka. Property consultancy firm Jones Lang LaSalle names Juggy Marwaha as South India MD, while Manoj Kohli, the MD and CEO of Bharti Airtel’s international operations, will move back to India in January to a larger strategic role involving decisions on aspects such as acquisitions and global partnerships. Essar Energy named Sushil Maroo as its CEO, replacing Naresh Nayyar who has decided to step down after more than three years at the helm. German luxury car maker Audi on Monday announced a top-level management change in its Indian operations, with Joe King being appointed as head effective from September 1, 2013 in place of Michael Perschke, who is moving back to the headquarters. Former Infosys top executive Sudhir Chaturvedi joins NIIT Tech

IR: Production at car plants of Tata Motors-owned Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) in Britain was hit due to industrial action by supply chain workers over a pay dispute. The government has decided to bring parity between the pay scales of employees at Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Ltd with their counterparts in Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd by 2017. Infosys will reduce its onsite effort to 20% of its overall effort, from about 25% now. Employees are increasingly creeping onto the radar of HR departments for apparent online indiscretions, with even friends, likes and comments being traced.

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Topics: Strategic HR, #Current, #WeeklyRoundup

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