At what point in your life did you decide to take up HR as your career? What were the guiding / motivating factors?

After I finished Chemical Engineering back in 1999, I worked for few months in a Cement Plant. But I always wanted to do Post Graduation in Management. So spoke to some seniors from my college and they guided me to Human Resources. As they were already doing it then, so they inspired me. 

HR is one practice that touches human lives directly. Do you think employers and especially HR Professional can play role in reducing stress levels of employees through various employee engagement initiatives?

Yes absolutely. HR professionals can definitely facilitate and play a big role in bringing balance to work life of employees. Our daily life is divided in to three quadrants. Ideally 8 hours of Work, 8 hours of Sleep and remaining 8 hours for everything else - commuting, exercising, eating, reading, shopping, socialising, sports, pursuing hobbies etc. So people negotiate these hours to get the best out of every day. Most of time and many of us aren’t able to strike a balance between these quadrants and so things get spilled over. As a result stress level goes up. 
So if HRs can bring few activities to work-place from the other hours of the day, will surely help employees bring more engagement to their workplace and reduce their stress levels.

What are some of the most important employee engagement initiatives related to Music, Art, Dance or Sports that you have taken in your career?

Music – Guitar and keyboard session for employees, Drum circle at various events.
Arts – Organised World Environment Day/Earth Day by making employees paint, make models/designs creatively.
Dance – Organised Annual festivities like Garba, Awards ceremonies, Get-togethers that included dance performances by employees. Facilitated evening sessions for Zumba, dance Yoga.
Sports – Organised various tournaments – Cricket, Carom, Table tennis, Chess, Dart board, team-bonding outbound adventure activities.        

Do you think time and cost for employee engagements are an investment for the organisation and can help in multi-fold returns?

Employee Engagement Activities help employees to bond over common hobbies and likings. These are the platforms that enable employees to connect with those employees with whom they don’t interact on a regular basis. Also employees who share a common interests connect at an emotional level with the Organization as a whole. Definitely returns for such investments are long term.        

Do you feel there is a need even to reach out to the family of employees so that they get better connected to the company? Have you undertaken any such initiative in your past or current organization?

Connecting with families of employees makes even stronger bonds for the employees with the Organization. Employees start perceiving Organization as their extended family. Bringing family of employees to office on a designated day and arranging some activities from kids, sending a letter of appreciation to spouse/family for the good work of an employee are few things that I have organised in my Organizations.

What is the one change that you would like to bring in HR practice that has potential to boost employees work-life balance?

Employee Engagement is much more than just organizing standard activities. Many HR professionals arrange events focussed around festivals. Engagement also means consulting and discussing with employees about their wants and facilitating all possible opportunities & options. Employee engagement should be seen as a function that has the potential to develop an employee’s career as well.

What are your personal interests in Music, Art, Dance or Sports and how do you continue to pursue it?

I have been a Sports person throughout my life. I have played multiple sports and have been good at them. I play Badminton or Table Tennis with my daughter when I get a chance over weekends.