Unhealthy Pay Packages
February 4, 2008 9:29 am UncategorizedThe outsourcing boom in
Law graduates are getting employment with legal process outsourcing companies. Science graduates and post graduates are getting excellent job opportunities in the field of Pharmaceuticals, Pharmacovigilance, Patent writing, technical writing etc. Even ordinary graduates with good communication skills are in good demand. This has reduced the incidence of unemployment among the educated youth. It has also increased the income level of middle class, increasing the purchasing power in the hands of the young. This is quite evident from the success of Branded Goods Stores, Hospitality Sector, Air Lines, Shopping Malls etc. This is the class that spends money. The young do not seem to know what to do with so much money. Aspirations are getting higher and higher. No one seems to be satisfied with one’s present assignment. Attrition rates are very high due to hopping from one company to another in search of higher pay packages. Institutional loyalty is becoming a rare commodity inspite of all efforts by employers to please their employees. Arresting attrition rates have become a challenging task for HR professionals, who are working on innovative incentive plans to satisfy ever rising aspirations, but today’s youth have alarming restlessness and desperation to achieve everything in a short span of time. Where is it all leading our youth? Of course, to more frustration, physical and emotional exhaustion. The age long 8 hour work shift is unimaginable today. Everybody is expected to work at least 12 hours and beyond and the lure of money and lavish life style compels them to obey. They are working like machines, breakfasting, lunching and dining in the office premises, coming home only to get a wink. The bachelors have no time for their parents and the married have no time for their spouse and children. Frustration is writ large on their faces. Socializing is limited to partying with their groups only. There is no time or energy left for sex or starting a family for the married ones. Incidence of chronic diseases like diabetes, hypertension among the youth is increasing at an alarming rate.
It is time we should awaken, otherwise it will be too late and our young will look older than our old. Why cannot some civilized working hours be enforced? The promoters of these companies should not be concerned about their profits alone. The work force may collapse some day. The Government has also given free hand to these companies. Let the hiring and firing be their choice but human work hours are must to save our youth. Let the packages be a little low and more people to work. Night shifts are common in units working 24 X 7 but the shifts are of 8 hours only and nobody works the night shift for long periods.
Indians are family oriented. Neglect of family definitely tells on one’s psyche. One may work under pressure and stress to keep one’s job or to compete with the peers, but in the process one gets detached from one’s employer. The only thing that remains is peer pressure and money. Till these people are at peace with their families and get sufficient opportunities for leisure and enjoyment, no loyalty should be expected from them. Old HR principles are relevant even today. The only thing that has changed is the attitude of the employers. The companies worried about attrition may give thought to this aspect. Graduates from IIMS and IITS, are already awakening to this malaise and have started preferring jobs that do not involve working for long hours though offer lower pay packages. Time to wake up and reflect!!
V.K Bhandari
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