After successfully serving as business head-South Africa, Godrej Consumer Products (GCPL), for over two and a half years—working out of Johannesburg Metropolitan Area—Vaibhav Ram has been elevated to the position of global HR head. Ram’s association with Godrej Consumer Products began back in October 2010, when he joined as HR business partner, sales. Less than two years into this role, he was promoted to manager-learning and OD and HRBP marketing and sales support functions, based out of Mumbai. He also successfully led the the capability development initiatives for the organisation. In April 2014, he was elevated again, this time to…
Author: HRK News Bureau
After a successful seven-year long tenure at Narayana Health, Santosh Singh has joined Tata Cancer Care Foundation as head-HR. Backed by two decades of experience in diverse industries, including pharmaceutical, power, luggage and healthcare, Singh is a seasoned HR leader capable of driving growth and transformation. Armed with a degree in law, Singh began his professional journey with Wanbury, where he joined as officer-HR, in 2001. Four years laters, he joined CIPLA as management staff (HR). For a little less than two years, he handled end-to-end HR processes entailing recruitment and selection, induction, performance appraisal, training and development, payroll administration,…
Dubai’s Emirates Group made waves today with its staggering annual profits announcement, soaring to $5.1 billion, marking a remarkable 71 per cent increase. This achievement, sets a new record for the second consecutive year. In a move to share this success with its workforce, the Emirates Group has granted a generous 20-week bonus to its employees. This is also a part of the company’s commitment to recognising their dedication and contribution to the company’s triumph. The announcement comes amidst a period of robust expansion, with the Group’s workforce reaching a record high of 1,12,406 employees. This is a 10 per…
In a recent disclosure to the BSE exchange Zomato announced the allocation of 18.26 crore shares under its Employee Stock Option Plans (ESOP) to employees across the company and its subsidiaries. The ESOP 2024 covers these grants, entitling one fully paid-up equity share valued at Rs 1 for every ESOP exercised. The company detailed its plans in a filing, outlining the formulation, adoption and implementation of the Zomato Employee Stock Option Plan 2024 (ESOP 2024), pending shareholder approval. This plan considers granting 18.26 crore employee stock options to eligible employees, including those in subsidiaries and associated companies. The company emphasised…
In a significant ruling, the Calcutta High Court delivered a verdict, setting a precedent to safeguard employees’ rights. The case revolved around Badal Kumar Mandal, who was initially appointed as a technical assistant at the Indian Museum in 2001 and was subsequently promoted to the position of senior technical assistant in 2005. However, in a surprising turn of events in 2018, Mandal was reverted back to his original position, prompting him to challenge this decision through a writ petition. Mandal’s petition argued against the Museum’s decision to revert his position, citing the autonomy granted to the Museum under the Indian…
In a recent ruling, Madras High Court’s Justice Mummineni Sudheer Kumar addressed the case of G. Ravichandran vs. Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation (Salem), setting a precedent on promotion qualifications within the corporation. G. Ravichandran, a long-serving employee initially hired as a record clerk (company trainee). In 1988, he progressed through the ranks to become a senior superintendent at the Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation (TSTC). Claiming eligibility for the position of assistant manager (Legal) due to his law degree, Ravichandran filed writ petitions when overlooked for promotion in favour of junior colleagues without similar educational qualifications. Ravichandran contended that…
Medtronic, the medical device firm, has announced plans to lay off 35 employees in Israel. The decision will impact approximately three per cent of its workforce there, which is around 1,200 strong. This decision comes as part of a broader global restructuring initiative by Medtronic. Furthermore, most of the affected employees are from Mazor Robotics, a company acquired by Medtronic in 2018 for $1.6 billion, marking its largest acquisition in Israel. Mazor specialises in developing robotic guidance systems for spine surgeries. The layoffs in Israel follow similar actions taken by Medtronic in recent weeks, including the termination of 44 workers…
Australian game development studio, Mighty Kingdom has announced a major staff layoff. In a significant restructuring move, the studio announced to let go 28 per cent of its workforce. This decision, described as the “toughest chapter” in the studio’s history, comes amidst global challenges faced throughout the past year. According to a recent X (formerly Twitter) post, Mighty Kingdom aims to “rightsize” its operations in response to ongoing economic difficulties. The move is also a part of the company ensuring sustainability for the future. Staff members have been notified of these changes, prompting many to begin searching for new employment…
Rita Verma has been elevated as chief talent officer at joins Omnicom Media Group India. She comes with 22 years of extensive experience in talent development, leadership development, culture building, and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). Rita’s appointment follows the retirement of Anju Kurien, who served the organisation for 13 years, significantly impacting OMG’s strategic footprint in the market. With her deep expertise, Rita is tasked with further strengthening OMG India’s people-centric culture, aligning with the group’s vision, and cultivating future-ready teams to drive growth. Rita’s familiarity with Omnicom extends back 19 years, having previously led the HR function at…
Airport Authority of India (AAI), in 2014, had refused maternity leave to a woman employee just because it was her third pregnancy. However, when the said employee, Kanakavali Raja Armugam submitted a petition to the Bombay High Court questioning the rejection of her maternity leave request by AAI, the Court stood by her. Kanakavali was married to Raja Armugam who used to an employee of AAI till he died. However, the two had one child while Armugam was in service. Kanakavali was given a job at AAI on compassionate grounds post Armugam’s death. She married again later and had two…
It is finally happening—the merger of Air India and Vistara, the latter being a joint venture between Singapore Airlines and the Tata Group. All that is awaited is the approval of the the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) in India. However, today, in a phygital townhall meeting, all the employees of both the airlines will be addressed by Campbell Wilson, chief executive officer, Air India and Vinod Kannan, chief executive officer and chief integration officer, Vistara. That means, about 23,500 employees in total, will be part of the meeting where they will be updated about the progress of the deal…
Rajeshbhai Ramjibhai Purabiya, a sanitation worker for the Rajkot Municipal Corporation, found himself staring at a dark cloud – dismissal. The reason? Repeated absences. Rajeshbhai, however, felt wronged. He argued his absences were justified, and the dismissal, a bolt from the blue. Rajeshbhai marched to the Labour Court, claiming the corporation had violated his right to fair treatment, a legal concept known as ‘natural justice’. The court agreed, calling the dismissal harsh and ordering Rajeshbhai’s reinstatement with some back pay. The corporation felt unheard, unheard in the cacophony of the initial ruling. They appealed to a higher court, the Gujarat…
Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), the crown jewel of India’s IT industry, finds itself walking a tightrope. Its annual report for 2023-24 reveals two distinct trends, each posing unique challenges. While a small but undeniable rise in employee unionisation has emerged, the company is also grappling with an ageing workforce. The spectre of unions, though a mere 1.2 per cent of the massive 600,000 strong workforce, is a noteworthy shift. This flicker of change, a 0.01 per cent increase from the previous year, hints at a potential transformation in the dynamics between TCS and its employees. Interestingly, a subtle gender gap…
In a move sparking concerns among employees, Dell is implementing a system to closely monitor remote work. The company’s recently announced policy, requiring employees in hybrid roles to be physically present in the office for at least 39 days per quarter (roughly three days a week), will be enforced through badge tracking and VPN monitoring. Badge Tracking: A human capital management software will track employee badge swipes, assigning color-coded ratings based on office presence. Blue signifies consistent on-site work, green indicates regular presence, yellow shows limited on-site time, and red flags employees with minimal physical presence. VPN Monitoring: Dell will…
Central government employees will now have to follow the new rules for leave travel concession or LTC. Some changes have been brought about in the eligibility for the concession by the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Department of Personnel and Training (DopT). As per the new rules LTC Rules [Rule 1(3)&1(4)]: Subject to the provisions of sub-rule 1(4), will apply to all those employees appointed to civil services and civilian government posts in the Defence Services in connection with the affairs of the Union. The concession will also apply to state government employees who are on deputation with…
K Krithivasan, CEO, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), who was appointed to this role following Rajesh Gopinathan’s resignation in June 2023, reportedly earned Rs 25 crore in the last financial year, as per the Indian multinational’s annual report. As he was initially global head-banking, financial services and insurance (BFSI) before taking on responsibilities of CEO & MD, his total compensation combines the salaries of both roles. The base salary was Rs 1.27 crore, translating to Rs 10.6 lakh per month, with other allowances and benefits totaling Rs 3.08 crore. Additionally, he earned Rs 21 crore in performance-based incentives. The compensation for…
State Bank of India (SBI) is currently hiring almost 12,000 employees for various roles, including positions in information technology. The bank recently revealed its earnings for the fourth quarter at a press conference. While at least 11,000 general roles exist, the bank reportedly follows a system wherein a significant 85 per cent of the positions at associate and officer level go to engineers. These engineers are trained on banking and then assigned associate roles, with some even going into the information technology (IT) department. With an aim to develop its IT department, the bank intends to hire more people with…
Air India Express, a subsidiary of the Tata Group, took swift action on 8 May, terminating 25 cabin crew members who called in sick as a form of protest against management policies. In a direct response to what the airline deemed a pre-planned disruption, the company cited breach of contract conditions and immediate termination of employment for the protesting crew. The terminated employees were accused of violating employment terms, which require crew members to be available for assigned duties and maintain high standards of conduct. The airline’s letter to employees outlined the severity of the situation. The letter stated that…
In a recent announcement, Larsen & Toubro (L&T) disclosed a significant surge in its workforce by 10 per cent over the past year, with nearly 8,000 new recruits in the fiscal year 2023-24. The engineering giant intends to sustain this momentum, with plans for continued expansion until 2025-26. During a post-earnings conference call after the company’s Q4FY24 earnings declaration, R Shankar Raman, chief financial officer, L&T, elaborated that despite a slowdown in international order inflow witnessed in the fourth quarter of 2023-24 and anticipated sluggishness in domestic orders for the initial two quarters of 2024-25, L&T remains steadfast in its…
In a bid to promote inclusivity in the workplace, DBS Bank India has unveiled a new initiative. The programme is tailored for women transitioning back into professional life, particularly new mothers. Recognising the challenges faced by individuals re-entering the corporate world after a career hiatus, the bank has introduced a specialised six-month internship programme. It aims to assist selected returnees with projects and mentorship from experienced industry leaders, facilitating a smoother transition back to work. The programme offers hands-on experience within an environment recognised as one of the ‘100 Best Companies for Women in India’ for eight consecutive years. Furthermore,…
Saurabh Chaudhuri has joined Godrej Consumer Products (GCPL) as its new global HR Centre of Excellence (CoE), talent, rewards and people processes, across all GCPL geographies. Prior to this, Chaudhuri was associated with udaan, a B2B e-Commerce startup, as its head-HR, managing human resources across a diverse range of categories. His role involved overseeing personnel matters across various sectors, ensuring effective staffing, talent management, and organisational development strategies are in place to support udaan’s dynamic businsess model and facilitate its growth in both B2B and B2C segments. An alumnus of the Tata Institute of Social Sciences and with over 14…
Atlassian, a team collaboration and productivity software provider, has elevated Avani Prabhakar, to the post of chief people officer (CPO). Her extensive expertise in people management across diverse regions and industries positions her well for success in this new role. In her new capacity, Prabhakar will oversee the company’s people organisation, which includes various departments such as human resources business partner (HRBP), employment relations, talent, total rewards, people insights, people M&A, as well as diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI), on a global scale. Prabhakar’s journey with Atlassian began in 2019 as the head-HR partners for Asia Pacific, followed by leadership…
The apex court ruled that zero-interest loans offered to employees of private-sector banks by their employers would be taxable as per Section 17(2)(viii) of the Income Tax Act and 3(7)(i) of I-T Rules. A bench comprising justices Sanjiv Khanna and Dipankar Datta explained that the savings enjoyed from such concessional or low-interest loans are “unique” and will come under ‘other fringe benefit or amenity’, which is a perquisite that attracts tax. It is pertinent to mention here that fringe benefits include benefits such as tuition support, life insurance, end employee discounts, that is, perks that companies grant to their staff…
As if losing one’s job isn’t enough, being informed of the termination in a heartless manner can make the severance even more painful. Employees at Tesla have been sharing their experience on receiving an insensitively worded mail regarding their termination. The mail from Elon Musk, CEO, Tesla, that has been viewed by thousands on social media ever since, says in a very ruthless and matter-of-fact manner, “Your last working day is today”. That is not all; the mail isn’t even personal, beginning with “Hello employee”. Musk did not even care to name the employee indicating a communication that is bereft…
Rossari Biotech has found its new CHRO in Sunil Nair, who was formerly head-HR, MHCV business, Ashok Leyland. He served a long tenure of over eight years at the Indian multinational automotive manufacturer, before moving to the specialty chemicals manufacturing company. Nair, who is an alumnus of the Indian Institute of Management, Calcutta, began his professional journey with Siddhartha Apparels as system analyst and management trainee, back in 1997. By the time he moved on from there, he had been elevated to general manager. During his eight-year long stint at Siddhartha Apparels, he mentored a team of over 250 personnel…
In a bid to curb misconduct and corrupt practices among its employees, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) has implemented stringent measures. The regulatory body has amended rules governing employee services, empowering a competent authority to demand recovery from an employee for any financial losses incurred by Sebi due to their actions. Under the revised regulations announced on 6 May, Sebi clarified that the recovery could be enforced through various legal means, including deducting the amount from the employee’s salary and other dues. Furthermore, this action can be taken if an employee is suspected of acting improperly, engaging…