The Hindu Business Line : Deloitte India offers career customisation option for staff

Mr Dhananjay Bansod, Chief People Officer, Deloitte India, has at least four per cent of his workforce on a professional see-saw. While some are dialling down their job roles and responsibilities, others are dialling up and ready to contribute more. Dialling down could mean working fewer days a month or fewer hours a day or cutting down on job responsibilities.

“We realised that our employees are going through different stages in the lifecycle and need to work out their career plans according to their aspiration levels. It also helps that there is wealth in the environment and some of them can dial down their careers,” says Mr Bansod, who heads the ‘mass career customisation’ initiative at Deloitte India, which has around 11,500 employees.

The initiative is based on the theory that there is a rising and falling level of engagement with careers over time and individuals need to fine-tune their job roles to suit these needs.

“While a larger number of women than men will opt for this due to traditional needs, we do have men who have ageing parents or different aspirations and are opting for career customisation,” says Mr Bansod.

“It’s too early to gauge the impact as we have initiated this just about a year back in India,” he explains.

India Inc hesitant

Commenting on whether Deloitte is advising its clients to initiate the concept to their employees, Mr P. Thiruvengadam, Senior Director, Management Consultancy Services, Deloitte India, said that dialling down has a ‘negative twist,’ especially among men. “It is looked at as not being competitive and not as a futuristic career option in India,” he says.

Mr Dhritiman Chakrabarti, Managing Director, India of HR consulting firm Watson Wyatt Worldwide, says that all variables need to be taken into account before rolling out this option.

“But as our jobs and our personal lives become more demanding, such options have proved successful in retaining and attracting prime talent in other countries and there is no compelling reason why, if properly planned and implemented, Indian companies cannot do the same,” he reasons out.

More Stories on : Human Resources | Consulting

Article E-Mail :: Comment :: Syndication :: Printer Friendly Page