Professionalism...Ramble...

Do we(Indians) lack professionalism? Undoubtedly, YES.

It's a small world out there, so many of us know so many others in common. Does that mean we go about discussing someone else's professional and personal lives with people who are not connected? I am not referring to GOSSIP(which is humane and natural).

Scenario1: Common friends may be colleagues in the past, present or future. It is sad to find  A and B(who were colleagues in the past) discussing  X (B and X are now colleagues, while A and X were colleagues in the past but never did A, B and X work together). Cut X, some slack.

Scenario2: A placement agency who is essentially an intermediary between a potential employee and an employer, communicates (amounts to a complaint) to commonly known people(who have whatsoever, no role  in the process) about the candidate not accepting a position.

Oh c'mon, where's your so called 'Professionalism'?

Aren't the HR of an organisation exasperating enough for employees to handle and sustain? We need no more of your kind.

Work-life balance: Do we understand the meaning of this term? Majority of us spend, 9-10hrs a day at work in addition to a minimum of 3hrs a day commuting to and fro work(in a city like Bangalore, especially) in an environment that is no less than a jail. Firewall and other tools in place that do not let you access the internet or any other external sites. Yes, you are there to do your job, yet to be caned and tied up like a dog(how fair is that)?

Even worse, is the concept of vacation. An employee has the right to take vacation. He slogs his ass out and then has to wangle for approval of vacation from his superior.

To Stretch: does it imply efficiency, productivity? Efficiency - from no angle, in my dictionary.

Acknowledgement of Receipt: Why is it only a one way process? Why do organizations/corporates/institutions only collect but refuse to provide 'acknowledgement of receipt' to individuals? An example I can instantly recall:

When an employee leaves an organization he/she has to return the ID card, failing which a certain amount will be deducted during the 'Full & Final Settlement'. While this is acceptable, what supporting evidence does the employee have for having submitted the same? TRUST, eh? Sorry, does not work, NOT ACCEPTABLE. It's about a mere system as against trust in a certain individual. The person accepting the ID card would probably not be with the organisation tomorrow, how will trust help in such a situation? Why don't they get it? Simple logic, ain't it? Even worse, why do majority of us(employees) accept and not question the same? It is so bloody annoying, to fight such systems that function on DOUBLE STANDARDS.

Intimation of Regret: Why do majority of organizations not intimate a potential candidate if one is not selected(must one wait endlessly)? Doesn't basic courtesy demand so? Unfortunately, such is the case in an arranged marriage scenario, as well. A Tamil saying that reads "Mownam Samadham" which means "Silence amounts to acceptance" works conversely here.

Shifting from rambling about work culture in India to People, their attitudes and complications....

No one is perfect, me included. Fidelity, lifestyle, opinion, etc are choices to be made in this democratic land while courtesy, basic manners and culture is an expectation(not a choice) from most anyone when you visit and stay at someone's place. It's after all not your place or your best buddy's place. Carry essential stuff like toiletries and sufficient cash(ever heard of the word - 'self respect'?), spare your hosts(after this experience can't wait to watch 'Atithi Tum Kab Jaoge') the use of fowl language(at least consider their age, generation, background), stop making CONTRADICTING, BLANKET statements. Introspect, go get a life!

I can rant away about several such instances, but it's a big bad world and discussing such people, ain't worth your time or mine. Realization of people around and the self (introspection) seems to be creeping in. I believe the outcome, are several valuable lessons learnt(one being: Be your own best friend, expect nothing from anyone whatsoever) and with that I take a break from rambling (cribacious and critical that I am) for the temporary present.

The Irony of a Career in the Pvt. Sector

This is not just an affected, irritated, experienced and annoyed me writing this post but I am more than sure that there are umpteen folks out there who will nod their heads in agreement to my views.

It's bloody frustrating, as long as you are in the system you can't say a thing neither about your boss, manager, HR(Human Resources) guys, for fear of being screwed(be it getting fired or performance or whatever crap) and then you tell yourself that whenever you leave you will slash back at each and everyone of them. And finally, when you bloody leave you can't say a thing because you want the reliving letter, you want the final settlement to come through peacefully and worst of all your next employer will contact your previous employer/manager for reference. The system sucks!

It's not that I am just hot headed and a chicken. When it comes to my professional life I sure am not a chicken. I vow that I will give it back every single time(and have done so on several occasions if not all), there is no point cribbing to friends and family and putting up with shit.

Thanks to ma blog - I manage to vent for the temporary present!

Human Resources @ Corporates

What is your first reaction when you hear the word "Human Resources"?

Well well I have been meaning to write this post for a while now but a heated argument with someone I know has lead me to do so finally(THIS IS NOT INTENDED TOWARDS ANY INDIVIDUAL IN SPECIFIC).

For several unknown unfortunate reasons I personally have always had not so great experiences with people from the HR world at organizations that I have worked with so far. I always thought it is with that specific individual or that HR lot in that specific organization but NO that's not how it is. Experience and time tells me it's the same almost everywhere. I know it's not good to generalize, criticize, judge and comment on people. I am not perfect, no one is perfect but this is an observation and an opinion that I am entitled to express with a certain clan, leaving aside a few exceptions. I sincerely hope that I do come across those exceptions at the earliest.

This is not just me speaking but several of my colleagues, ex-colleagues, friend's etc are on the same page when it comes to this issue.

My best friend, cousin and a few other friends and acquaintances are in this field, with due respect to all of them and their professions I as an outsider to their family feel and believe so. In fact I did once ask my friend:
"Why do you HR guys have such attitude? In fact I have noticed most of you are not aware of your own subject, work and stuff and still have that attitude".

This is what she said in response:" It's the feeling of power, because we hire and fire"

I then told her:"It's not you who decides to hire and fire, you are only the medium used to hire and fire".

For whatever reasons we left it at that. I once had an issue with my HR rep during my exit process. She intimates me of the 'exit interview' through chat(MSN) and not through an email. Mind you this organization follows and has a procedure in place to even move a chair from one position to the other and because I asked her 'Why she did not formally intimate me?', she snapped at me. Boy! what attitude and why(I fail to understand)? Firstly you are at fault and instead of admitting it you get back at me? Yes, I agree we all make blunders but to be arrogant while you are at fault?

What can I say.....I only hope I come across the real nice HR types(and not the smooth talkers) soon.

Disclaimer: I have nothing personal with anyone from the world of HR, be it my friends, family, HR colleagues, etc and thus this post is not directed towards any particular individual.