The Human Factor

May 2012

Making fun work!
While economic productivity was once squeezed from workers largely at the expense of their health and happiness, the flow started reversing; with increasing evidence that a happier workforce directly affected the bottom line, ‘fun at work’ gained importance
Lately, ‘fun at work’ has become serious business for progressive organisations. With the war for talent becoming more intense, organisations are looking to build a workplace environment that is vibra.... Read More

Google search for fun!
Jayashri Ramamurti (Head of people operation, engineering & product for Google India) on how productivity is directly proportional to the fun quotient
Q. How would you describe life for Google employees?
A. At Google, we believe that we work on cutting-edge problems and are constantly looking for smart ways of solving them. The a.... Read More

Fun is serious business!
Raghavendra K. (Vice-President – HR, Infosys BPO) Says an organisation must understand the needs and create its own fun strategies
Q. What is Infosys doing to keep its employees engaged?
A. Fun activities by themselves do not have any meaning for the employees unless the organisation takes into account the enti.... Read More

Twist the cap to taste the surprise!
Sameer Wadhawan, (Vice-President – HR,Coca-Cola India & South West Asia) shares what makes Coca-Cola a brand that believes in creating an aspirational workplace
Q. What are your thoughts on the evolved concept of fun at work in today’s business?
A. Our workplace today is central to our lives given that most of us, on an average, spend half .... Read More

Get the intent right
Kathryn Owler (Company Director, Joyworkz) says that a fun workplace can help create a sense of belonging and loyalty in employees
Q. How do you see a fun-filled workplace?
A. Fun at work means different things to different people. However, my research found that most people view fun at work as emerging out of .... Read More

The emotional connect!
SM Gupta (Chief People Officer, Aegis Limited) says when productivity concludes with a celebration, it builds a culture of recognition and well-being in the organisation
Q. How does Aegis ensure that its employees are happy? How far do fun activities at the workplace play a role in this?
A. At Aegis, employee engagement is the cornerstone of our cul.... Read More

Where every voice is important
C. Subramanium (President – Human Resource, Siyaram Silk Mills Ltd.) reveals how Siyaram makes it a point to keep its employees motivated by engaging them in various programmes which serve as on-the-job learning and stress reliever
There has been a shift in expectations of the workforce, especially of the Gen Y. The textile industry per se is a very labour-centric business and attrition level and absenteeism is high here. It wa.... Read More

Calming the turbulent minds
Manoj Biswas (Lead – Human Resources, Accenture India) says top level executives have busy minds at all times and devising strategy to quiet the mind does wonders for them
Q. Placing fun alongside work. Why is it important?
A. A regular day at work often presents challenges and stressful activities that take a toll on employees. Too much of stress .... Read More

Bringing the fun element to the table
Dennis W. Bakke, President & CEO, Imagine Schools
Q. What has been your inspiration behind writing Joy at Work?
A. Most important decisions in organisations are made by the bosses. Lack of freedom to make decisions is the single mo.... Read More

Work... Unwind... Work
Sangeeta Pandey, Director – HR, Akzo Nobel India
Q. What are your thoughts on mixing business with pleasure?
A. The old adage that ‘All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy’, could not have been truer. Employees in today’s world.... Read More

With great fun comes greater responsibility
Anshoo Gaur (President & Head, Amdocs India) pens down how Amdocs India helps in making its employees climb the corporate ladder at a faster pace by providing them with an atmosphere where they have the liberty to live life king size!
Fun is not the prescription for every organisation. For companies that truly realise that the major boost in their productivity would be derived from people rather that technology, fun is an element t.... Read More

Breaking the monotony
Neelam Gill Malhotra (Vice-President – HR, CSC India) shares that engaging employees in activities helps spread positive energy within the organisation and improves productivity
Q. What kind of programmes do you have in place at CSC India to make it a fun and interesting place to work?
A. CSC has always believed in creating a conducive environment for its e.... Read More

Generating energy at work
Surinder Bhagat, Country HR Head, Freescale Semiconductor India
Talent without enthusiasm is like a Ferrari without fuel,” said Australian author Sebastyne Young, and this defines our recruitment strategy. Besides technical expertise, passion too counts in a poten.... Read More

The great Indian inspiration!
Alexander Kjerulf (Author, Consultant & Founder of WOOHOO inc.) says that Happy workplaces are more innovative, have happier customers, sell more products, and have lower absenteeism
Q. What is your idea of a dream workplace?
A. Any workplace can be a dream workplace, provided managers and employees are willing to do something to make it a great place to work. F.... Read More

Laugh your way through problems
Fun leads to alleviation of the inevitable boredom that arises out of dull, routine and unchallenging tasks; a happy workplace with productive employees is the need of the hour
Ernest Hemingway famously said, “It always seemed to me that in those who make jokes in life the seeds are covered with better soil and with a higher grade of manure.”

A number of HR researc.... Read More

The water-cooler effect
With the advent of technology our daily lives have seen drastic changes, but are our jobs and workplaces benefitting from technology’s impact?
Hardly noticeable yet extremely potent! Yes, that would be the right adjectives that go on to describe the ubiquitous ‘water cooler’ in offices. There can be no second thoughts about the fact that the.... Read More

Happiness guaranteed!
Raja Shanmugam, Chief People Officer, Happiest Minds Technologies
Happiness is the meaning and the purpose of life, the whole aim and end of human existence, Aristotle said. Happiest Minds was launched in August 2011 by a team of industry experts with the mission to.... Read More

Laugh out loud!
Dr. Madan Kataria, Managing Director & Founder, Laughter Yoga Movement
Q. What is so unique about laughter yoga?
A. It is cost effective, time efficient and scientifically proven. Hence, anyone can do it and as an activity, as it is easy to learn and i.... Read More

See the positives
Shivi Kalia (Director – HR, CSS Corp) unveils the direct link between fun at work and overall productivity of the organisation
Q. How do you see the role of fun at work in making a healthy corporate culture?
A. Studies reveal that including the aspect of fun at work has more advantages than disadvantages. W.... Read More

Forever in our employees’ debt
Sandyp Bhattacharya (VP – HR, Comviva) reveals that creating a healthy work environment where working is fun is imperative in today’s organisations
Q. Discuss with us the best fun at work practices at Comviva.
A. We have what is called our happiness office that runs a ‘ComNjoy’ calendar through the year, with a series of fun ev.... Read More

Adding a tinge of happiness!
Organisations are fast catching up with the global trend of making the workplace an interesting and challenging place by accommodating fun at work as an essential part of business.
All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy! It is time you spiced up your work life by knowing about the importance of fun at the workplace. It has become practically impossible for today’s profession.... Read More

Family’s day at work
Sridar Narayanswami, VP – India Region, Emerson
Q. What are some of the unique fun-at-work initiatives at Emerson?
A. We have many initiatives across our business groups, some of them are as follows:
• Family Day at wo.... Read More