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

I did different jobs in various countries. I am very grateful to my company because they gave me a change and new challenging role every few years. That is why I completed 20 years in this company and have never felt stuck, tired or bored. What was given to me is something I have never done in the past, which was challenging, and I really enjoyed doing it. Currently, I am handling HR portfolio and I feel HR has given me widest kind of choice I can have.

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?

Employee Engagement is a way of life in every IT company, I have been in IT over 20 years. Very major work for HR apart from the recruitment and other tasks is the Employee Engagement Activities. It is accepted by all the industry experts as it is an age-old practice. As the stress levels are increasing, youngsters are experiencing deteriorating mental and physical health at a very early age, employee engagement is a bursting mechanism by the employer, it has become the need of an hour.

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

In our company, we have a special initiative, where lots of competitions and concerts are held. This umbrella covers aspects related to Employee Engagement Programmes and CSR.

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

Once it has become the need of an hour, then it becomes an investment and not an expense. Many big companies have taken this approach. Like how a company invests in approaching and recruiting the employees, similarly in order to keep employees active and healthy – both physically and mentally, this is a good investment and also a well-accepted norm in the Industry.

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?

Our initiative to connect touches not only the employees but their families too. In this way, we have tried to create a great bonding with our employees. This initiative is existing for a long time now.

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

An HR should create a platform to strike out the balance. My daughter works for another IT giant and she took me to its campus auditorium where a Music show was going on. Given my love for Music, I couldn’t resist and went to watch it. There was a group of employees singing in an orchestra with musicians. On asking them, came to know that it was an initiative of that company to encourage the employees. It was good to see all big IT companies are creating such good platforms to encourage their employees. 

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

I refuse to give up on my Music. Recently I did a music show in an old age home in Pune. 100+ seniors were present. Did this show with my musician friends. We sang for them and some of the senior citizens even danced. On the occasion of the death anniversary of Muhammad Rafi, performed in a theatre show in Pune. This is what I have been doing for so many years , I simply don’t give up and my message to everyone is ‘Don’t give up on your passion, continue it inspite of all the hindrances and obstacles, do as much as you can because these things are real pleasures of life.