Absenteeism and tardiness are being taken seriously by organisations across the country. Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal (PMPML) is the latest to join this lot having issued chargesheets against about 142 employees for being absent. Those issued the chargesheets include conductors and drivers. For the first time, 36 employees from across 15 depots were suspended.
This disciplinary action was taken against 30 conductors and six drivers. Two drivers and a worker from the workshop are to be dismissed too.
This disciplinary action is expected to help improve the services of PMPML and enhance customer/passenger satisfaction.
The discipline will also ensure that maximum number of buses ply on routes and in the process ensure that absenteeism is reduced. Emphasis is also being laid on courtesy on the part of the employees to add value to the experience of the passengers.
While passengers who have had to deal with arrogant drivers and conductors in the past have welcomed the move, the workers’ union is not happy with the suspension.
Looks like organisations, especially government offices across the country, are increasingly emphasizing on punctuality to improve the productivity of the employees.
The offices of the Kerala government have already linked the staff payroll software, SPARK, with the biometric attendance punching system. The move was aimed at ensuring punctuality and regular attendance amongst the government employees, who would face a pay cut or loss of leave if they fail to mark their attendance within the allotted time slots for entering and leaving the office.
Last week, when an employee of Jaipur Vidyut Vitran Nigam in Rajasthan was hauled up for being absent during a surprise audit at the office, he coolly pointed out how tardy his own boss was instead of apologising!