In a recent decision, the Gujarat Authority for Advance Rulings (AAR) ruled in favour of Kohler India Corporation regarding the tax treatment of employee canteen services. The order clarified that deductions made from employees’ salaries for meals provided in the factory premises are not considered a ‘supply’ under Section 7 of the CGST Act, 2017, and the GGST Act, 2017. The decision also highlighted that the Input Tax Credit (ITC) is limited to the cost borne by the company for offering these canteen services. Kohler India, in compliance with the Factories Act, 1948, had entered into an agreement with a…
Author: HRK News Bureau
OCS, the global facilities services business, has appointed Ryme Dembri as chief human resources officer, Asia Pacific and Middle East, with effect from 15 May 2024. Armed with a master’s degree in human resource management from the University of Paris I: Panthéon-Sorbonne, began her human resources journey with Softmatic AG in 1999. Based out of Germany, she served as human resources manager for over two years, before moving to Pricewaterhouse Coopers as consultant in HR leadership and change management. This role saw her working out of Paris, France, for the next five years. In January, 2007 she joined Demos Group…
In a bid to make the company more profitable, Japanese television manufacturing firm, Toshiba has decided to let go of 4000 people from its team. This restructuring exercise will affect about six per cent of its workforce in Japan. That is not all; the company will relocate its office from Tokyo to Kawasaki. The objective of the job cuts is to achieve 10 per cent profit margin by 2027 and attain better stability. After a decade of financial struggle, Toshiba was bought over by a group led by Japan Industrial Partners (JIP) in a $13 billion deal. The job cuts…
Bayer AG, the pharmaceutical giant, has decided to reduce its team size by about 1500 positions. The news came after the company unveiled its financial performance for the first quarter of 2024. As per media reports, the job cuts will predominantly affect individuals in management roles. This restructuring initiative coincides with a slight dip in sales and a revised earnings outlook for the fiscal year ahead. Bill Anderson, CEO, Bayer, clarified during a media briefing on 14 May that nearly two-thirds of the job cuts affected managerial positions across Bayer’s pharmaceuticals, crop science, and consumer health divisions. Anderson emphasised that…
UST, a digital transformation solutions provider, has rolled out an initiative aimed at training over 25,000 employees worldwide in Generative AI (GenAI). The aim is to ensure its staff members stay ahead in terms of technological innovation. This ambitious move builds on UST’s track record of bolstering artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities, demonstrating its dedication to comprehensive workforce development. The AI training endeavour, targeting more than 80 per cent of its workforce, underscores UST’s commitment to leveraging its expertise to maintain its leadership in the rapidly- evolving AI landscape. This initiative follows closely on the heels of UST AlphaAI’s launch. This…
Debashree Mukherjee has joined Khanna Paper Mills as its assistant vice president & head-human resources, as she confirms through a social-media post. Mukherjee brings a wealth of experience and expertise to her new position. Prior to this, she served as the head-HR at Fresenius Kabi Oncology. She joined the organisation in 2022 and spearheaded HR initiatives across various sectors, including manufacturing, R&D, and corporate functions. Mukherjee’s background encompasses a wide range of HR domains, including talent management, leadership development, strategic HR management, diversity, equity and inclusion (DE&I), training and development, organisational development (OD) interventions, competency mapping, performance- management systems (PMS),…
In a significant verdict, the Madras High Court has ruled in favour of a government employee who faced suspension on the day of his retirement. The court directed the authorities to allow the employee, K Saravanan, to retire and receive all rightful monetary benefits. Saravanan, an employee of the school education department in Sivaganga district, was suspended on the day of his superannuation in 2022 and was denied the opportunity to retire. Allegations surfaced that he secured his position through false means, stating that his mother, a government servant, had deserted him during his youth. Challenging the suspension and subsequent…
With a 3,000-strong workforce already working at IBM, Ireland, the news of 800 additional jobs is a surprisingly pleasant one from the American multinational tech firm. IBM, Ireland, which is said to be amongst the biggest employers in the country, is reportedly working towards creating advanced software driven by artificial intelligence (AI). In the last 10 years, Ireland’s labour market has seen a doubling in the number in the number of people employed by multinationals. In fact, 11 per cent of the labour force is working for such multinationals. The jobs in MNCs were only affected last year for the…
If the employees of Steel Authority of India (SAIL) take up a self-development activity, from a list of prescribed activities, they get to work from other than the workplace. The WoW policy, which is short for ‘Work from other than the workplace’, was launched by Amarendu Prakash, chairman, SAIL recently. The unique and first-of-its-kind human resource policy initiative is aimed at enabling “employees to focus on more strategic roles while being away from the designated workplace”. The WoW policy hopes to provide employees an opportunity to work on their professional development even while maintaining a healthy balance between work and…
In a recent announcement to the state government, Tesla revealed its plan to lay off an additional 601 employees in California. This move comes in response to declining sales and escalating competition in the electric- vehicle sector. Elon Musk, CEO, Tesla, first disclosed the intention to reduce the company’s workforce by over 10 per cent on 15 April, citing the need to adapt to changing market dynamics. Since then, multiple rounds of layoffs have been executed, with Musk reportedly aiming for a 20 per cent reduction in headcount. The latest round of layoffs will primarily impact workers at Tesla’s Palo…
In a recent ruling, the Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh High Court overturned a recovery order issued by the Srinagar Development Authority (SDA). The order had demanded that retired employee Mohammad Ramzan Tantray return an excess amount paid to him due to an error in his pay scale upgrade. Justice Wasim Sadiq Nargal, presiding over the case, emphasised that recovery of excess payments made to employees due to mistakes or misinterpretation of rules is impermissible. Tantray, who began as a daily wager in 1976 and later served as a Chowkidar before being designated as a pump operator in 1993, saw…
In a bid to streamline operations and cut costs, Converse, under its parent company Nike, is trimming its workforce. The job reductions are reportedly a part of Nike’s broader restructuring plan. Nike’s $2 billion cost-cutting initiative aims to reduce its workforce by two per cent, and Converse is also affected. The layoffs are not limited to Nike’s Oregon headquarters, where over 700 job cuts are expected, but extend to Converse’s Boston base as well. In December 2023, the sports brand had revealed its intention to launch a cost-saving initiative that will bring down expenditure by $2 billion in three years’…
Honda Motor is downsizing its permanent production workforce in China. This move comes amidst a decline in car sales in the world’s largest auto market. This decision by Honda reflects the ongoing challenges faced by Japan’s traditional car brands in China. The increasing dominance of local manufacturers such as BYD, coupled with a fierce price competition, is eroding market share for foreign brands. Additionally, Chinese consumers are gravitating towards electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids, segments where Japanese brands find it challenging to compete with their domestic counterparts. GAC Honda Automobile, a collaboration between Honda and Chinese state-owned automaker Guangzhou Automobile…
Deloitte’s latest survey, conducted in 2024, unveils the perspectives of Gen Z and Millennials on the evolving world and workplace dynamics. With over 22,800 respondents from 44 countries, the survey scrutinises their perceptions, emphasising the significance of work-life balance and a sense of purpose in job satisfaction and overall well-being. The survey methodology involved over 22,800 respondents from various regions, providing comprehensive insights into the attitudes and behaviours of members of Gen Zs and the Millennials. Conducted between November 2023 and February 2024, the findings shed light on the evolving dynamics shaping the future of work and society. The survey…
Residents of Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam and Pathanamthitta witnessed a disruption in the supply of milk owing to the striking Milma employees. The employees of Milma—which is the brand name of the state government cooperative socity,Kerala Co-operative Milk Marketing Federation—had presented their demands via a joint forum of the employees’ organisations. They primarily sought immediate promotions for those in the lower cadre and withdrawal of police cases against some employees. Promotions have apparently not taken place in four years for the lower-cadre employees, including lab workers, and those working in the factory and marketing department. About 40 staff members working in Kollam…
The Dakshin Haryana Bijli Vitran (DHBVN) has ended up paying a heavy price for denying retiral or pensionary benefits to Chander Prakash, who had been fighting a legal battle, for over two decades, for what was his Constitutional right. Prakash had filed a petition alleging that DHBVN had denied him pensionary benefits amounting to Rs 2.13 lakh at the time of his superannuation in 1999. Prakash passed on without hearing the verdict, which was in his favour. He had approached the Court six times for justice and to seek what was rightfully his to begin with. The Punjab & Haryana…
The employment of Madhusmita Dutta, a lecturer at Joda Women’s College, was wrongfully terminated suddenly in September 1995. A year later, following an appeal by Dutta, despite this termination being declared illegal by the director of higher education, Odisha, she was not reinstated. This led to a long-drawn legal battle, and finally the Orissa High Court stood by Dutta, ruling that her back wages be paid to her. That is not all; the Court ordered that her service for the period of termination be regularised and she be paid all the benefits that she is eligible for as a result…
Indeed has announced major cuts, reducing its workforce by about 1,000 employees, constituting roughly eight per cent of its global staff. The decision was conveyed in a letter to employees on Monday, 13 May 2024. The letter from Chris Hyams, CEO, Indeed.com, attributed the job cuts to the company’s efforts to simplify the organisation. It is also aimed at facilitating swifter decision-making processes, bolstering revenue and hiring endeavours. It highlighted that unlike the previous year’s reductions primarily driven by cost-saving objectives, this year’s action aims at optimising efficiency to meet growth targets. Furthermore, it aims to assist 100 million individuals…
PayPal has initiated widespread layoffs on Tuesday, 14 May. The restructuring is said to be part of a strategy to optimise costs and enhance efficiency by ‘right-sizing’ the business. This decision comes in the wake of recent endeavours by Alex Chriss, CEO, PayPal, to streamline operations and reduce expenditures since his appointment to the company last September. According to Bloomberg, the company aims to trim about 2,500 positions, which translates to roughly nine per cent of its total workforce. Employees across various sectors, including engineering and research and development, are expected to be affected by these changes. The move follows…
Sundar Pichai, CEO, Google, shed light on the company’s ongoing workforce adjustments and their rationale. During an all-hands meeting, he addressed concerns, outlining Google’s strategy for managing these changes amidst a transitional period. In an exclusive interview with Bloomberg, he expanded on Google’s approach to expense management and workforce growth amid industry shifts. He stressed the necessity of tough decisions aligned with evolving priorities, aimed at maximising efficiency and productivity to meet market demands. Pichai underlined the importance of executing layoffs thoughtfully to minimise disruption, with existing employees reportedly receiving salary raises. He noted that most actions would occur in…
The Kozhikode Industrial Tribunal and Employees’ Compensation Commissioner had directed Food Corporation of India (FCI) to reimburse the medical expenses of an employee, PT Rajeevan, whose request for reimbursement had been refused because he had failed to seek treatment from a hospital empanelled by FCI. However, FCI had filed an appeal against the order following which Justice G Girish, upheld the order of the Kozhikode Industrial Tribunal and Employees’ Compensation Commissioner. The Court was of the opinion that it was only humanitarian to allow an employee to seek treatment from the best hospital in case they meet with an accident…
In a pioneering move for employee well-being, Razorpay, India’s leading payment solutions company, has unveiled a significantly revamped health insurance policy packed with industry-first benefits. This innovative plan extends coverage beyond the traditional scope, encompassing siblings, adopted children, and critical illnesses like HIV/AIDS and PCOS. Razorpay acknowledges the changing landscape of family structures. Their new policy empowers employees to define their family for insurance purposes, including siblings alongside existing coverage for spouses, live-in partners, LGBTQIA+ partners, and parents. This sibling coverage is a rare perk, offered by less than 1 per cent of Indian companies according to Prudent’s data. Razorpay’s…
HDFC Bank has substantially changed its human resources policy. Effective immediately, the bank has drastically reduced the notice period for departing employees from 90 days to just 30 days. According to a senior official at HDFC Bank, this move is designed to adapt to the evolving dynamics of the workplace while prioritising the needs of its workforce. The decision was communicated to employees via email on 6 May, underscoring the bank’s commitment to transparency and employee welfare. This announcement marks a significant shift aimed at enhancing employee flexibility and facilitating smoother transitions within the organisation. Furthermore, through this move, the…
The tech giant, Cognizant has stirred up a storm as reports emerged of its stringent stance on employees returning to the office. According to LiveMint, the company issued a stark warning, suggesting that employees could face termination if they continued to defy the directive to return to office premises despite repeated reminders. In a letter dated 15 April, addressed to the workforce, Cognizant reiterated its expectations regarding in-office presence. It urged those who hadn’t complied to the return-to-office mandate, despite earlier warnings to revisit previous communications from top brass regarding office attendance. As per the letter, failure to adhere to…
Aman Gupta is all set to step into the shoes of Aadesh Goyal, as CHRO, Tata Communications, starting 1 July 2024, while Goyal superannuates on 30 June. Gupta’s elevation to CHRO was approved by the Board of Tata Communications recently. An economics graduate from Delhi University, Gupta also completed an MBA from IIFM. He was associated with Deloitte Consulting for two years from 2004 to 2006, before he moved on to PricewaterhouseCoopers as senior consultant-HR advisory. The next three years he spent with KPMG Advisory as manager-HR advisory. His next stop was EXL service, where he served as assistant vice…
Hundreds of Walmart employees are facing layoffs or have been asked to relocate to the corporate office or to other central offices. Primarily, the employees at the smaller offices of Walmart in Atlanta, Dallas or Toronto have been asked to relocate as per the Wall Street Journal. However, as per reports, employees may be allowed to work remotely part time, provided they spend most of their time working from the physical office. The workforce strength of Walmart at the start of 2024, was about 2.1 million, globally. It has been trying to reduce the headcount for a year now, in…