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

I was into a consulting job with various large public sectors, foreign banks, private sectors and I could see a lack of implementation because one can consult and advice, but one should have the real experience of execution and implementation. Then I thought to be a part of a corporate company where I could design and conceptualize and integrate all these practises and see its impact on the people and the organisation. This is how I decided to join a corporate as an HR after consulting for many leading companies.

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

Yes certainly! HR can reduce stress of employees by human touch and treating them as their own customer. HR is the growth & business partner, change manager, innovator and strategic advisor to the CEOs and Board of Directors on how the employee engagements and employee retentions to be taken through good HR practises.  This is how HR plays an important role in engaging the employees in order to motivate them for growth of the company. In last 25 years, I have taken many employees engagement surveys. We have ranked on top regarding carrying out employees engagement activities in competency ways, appraisals, rewards and recognitions, hiring best available resources and developing future leaders in the company, recognising star performers and mentoring those who aren’t meeting the expectations, annual events, achievers day, team building programmes, leadership development programmes and so on.

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

We have our company’s own IPL like matches of Football, Cricket, Badminton, Volleyball. We take people to various stadiums to experience outdoor games. We organise many musical events and insist our employees to learn music and any one instrument to develop a hobby as music plays an important role in destressing and makes one happy to pursue a passion and helps to improve mental peace.

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

Yes, employee engagement is a very important investment and it helps retention. Any investment on employees’ retention, training programme or development programme, whether if it is reward and recognition, whether to send an employee out for holidays, engaging with the families of employees, etc are the big investments for the company for retaining good people and also employees feels good by realising that the company is spending for their own wellbeing and development, valuing employees as a person. Hence this is a great investment.

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?

Yes, it is extremely important to connect family for various engagement programs. I have involved families in reward and recognition programmes and top management engagement programmes. I had once organised a spouse meeting of all the senior managements and we had leadership programmes for employees. We called out lady consultants to discuss about maintaining work life balance and health & fitness. Also, we presented them the strategy and growth of the company as spouses of employees are also a very crucial part of the company. Inviting them for dinner with CEO’s and management. In multiple levels we engage with employees’ families.

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

Employees must go home on time and take due leaves to spend time with family.
Give them movie and dinner coupons on specific occasions.  Also, if any medical or financial issue arises in their family then we as a company must provide the best possible support. If we treat employees as our customers, then we would surely give all the priorities one gives to his/her customer.

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

I like to play mouth organ for my relaxation and pleasure. I also love to sing and listen to music. I have organised many live concerts of Late Jagjit Singh’s Ghazals, I am very fond of his music. I also like to play sports, particularly outdoor games.

Any other thoughts you may want to share.

Music, Art, Dance and sports all are very critical factors for employee’s retention. HR professionals must be a friend of everyone in the organisation. They shouldn’t be sitting in their cabin, they must rather be around and see what troubles individuals are facing and how to deal with them.  Employees must be treated as the most valuable assets of the company.