Thursday, December 13, 2018

WORKPLACE SPECIAL..... Putting best practices to work


Putting best practices to work

Creating strategies for better execution of tasks and devising policies to ensure a happy and aspirational workforce, is what differentiates great workplaces from the rest

Gone are the days when workplaces were just a part of one’s life. Today, the professionals are much more aspirational and have career aspirations that make their lives revolve around their work. Fulfilling the needs of these professionals and providing them the right platform to grow, the present-day organisations are much more than just offices as they called them earlier. Now, the organisations are more about the well-rounded growth of the individuals who not only evolve professionally through the various initiatives that the organisations take for their employees, but are also able to maintain a good work-life balance.
Talking about how the present-day workplaces are striving to rise up to the expectations of the employees, Sudhir Pal, director and head HR, Motilal Oswal Financial Services, says, “The culture and value system of the organisation plays an important role in making it a great place to work. Mutual purpose and respect, open culture, zero tolerance to unethical practices are some of the practices that instill confidence and trust among employees. Besides, it is extremely important to touch base with the employee families once in a while. This enables them to feel as a part of the larger family at work. As the culture of the organisation is constituted of the behaviour of the employees, it is important to put in place the right practices across segments.”
It wouldn’t be wrong to say that pride in your organisation is something that contributes significantly into making a workplace a great place to work. An organisation’s ability to attract the right talent for key roles also enables it to become a great place to work. Talking about the various measures that enable the organisations to strengthen the workplace, Rajeev Bhardwaj, vice president, HR, Sun Life Financial, Asia Service Centre, says, “It is extremely important to hire professionals from different walks of life, and not restrict to bringing in people who have similar backgrounds. Gender diversity, cultural diversity and having a few mavericks on board really help the organisation to emerge stronger and more diverse. Besides hiring, it is equally important to sensitise the workforce to be assimilative and appreciative of differences – be it of gender, background or physical ability. The leadership plays a vital role here by leading with example and showcasing the need to value diversity. Acceptance and belief for it flowing from the top, makes it much easier for people to adapt.”
Becoming an ideal workplace is easy as well as tedious. No organisation can become an exemplary employer overnight. What it takes is a responsible management that puts in place strategies and policies that make the workplace employee centric and help them grow along with the organisation. Talking about the same, Amol Pareek, a finance professional, says, “I have worked with many big and small companies and I do not hesitate in saying that a large number of small organisations are providing to their employees what the bigger organisations did not think of. Making the wellbeing and growth of your employees a priority is something that separates the winners from other organisations. The companies that are able to tick most boxes related to their employees’ growth and personal well-being right are often the ones that witness huge employee participation and retention at the same time.”
While a lot has been said and done about employee welfare, it is definitely the implementation on ground that makes the organisations the ones employees want to laud. It is surely going to be a win-win for both, the organisations and the employees they bring in.
KAMINI.KULSHRESHTHA
ET28NOV18

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