The Oxford dictionary defines occupational hazard as 'a risk accepted as a consequence of a particular occupation'.
Think of the occupational hazard associated with construction work, or mining industry, or, for that matter, night-time driving. The hazard could actually range from sleeplessness to losing life. Still there were people who have sacrificed almost everything to produce some of the most remarkable structures around and jaw-dropping sites. The recently commissioned Gotthard Base Tunnel is a case in point. That surely did involve occupational hazard, in spite of all the advancements made by science.
Now contrast this with the IT Services industry, which is sized at around $140 billion and employing over ten million people in India alone. Impressive figures, indeed. Another figure worth noting is the attrition rate- double digit, often touching 25 per cent.
Let's talk about some of the working conditions in such firms. Centralized air conditioning, no uniforms mandated, enormous flexibility on working hours and work timings, very handsome salaries, all amenities on campus, food courts, playgrounds, libraries, gyms, comfortable and ergonomic workplace, and frequent outings and workplace fun activities, just to name a few. Most of these avenues must be shocking for government employees or even for those working in the private sector manufacturing setup. For a change, let's talk to someone operating a blast furnace at Tata Steel in Jamshedpur during summers.
With all these and many more amenities, what could still justify such massive employee turnovers?
I reckon, there has to be something fundamentally amiss to continue to make people miserable in these otherwise wonderful settings. It seems that none of the external inducements, including some vulgar salary figures, manage to motivate people to stay back and 'work'.
Is it that employees are increasingly losing 'a sense of purpose'. Is it that they don't seem to understand 'why they are doing what they are doing'? My close interactions with folks in the IT services industry offers some ratification to this hunch, and I am not entirely wrong looking at the sorry state of the industry. And the phenomena may not be limited to this industry.
If talent is so mobile, how can anyone create something enduring? Stability is required at times. It's not just good for employee, but also for the industry at large, for, as in nature, creation calls for gestation.
So, I urge you to re-look at the 'occupation hazard' in the context of your workplace, and see if you have left the question of purposelessness unanswered for far too long!
Think of the occupational hazard associated with construction work, or mining industry, or, for that matter, night-time driving. The hazard could actually range from sleeplessness to losing life. Still there were people who have sacrificed almost everything to produce some of the most remarkable structures around and jaw-dropping sites. The recently commissioned Gotthard Base Tunnel is a case in point. That surely did involve occupational hazard, in spite of all the advancements made by science.
Now contrast this with the IT Services industry, which is sized at around $140 billion and employing over ten million people in India alone. Impressive figures, indeed. Another figure worth noting is the attrition rate- double digit, often touching 25 per cent.
Let's talk about some of the working conditions in such firms. Centralized air conditioning, no uniforms mandated, enormous flexibility on working hours and work timings, very handsome salaries, all amenities on campus, food courts, playgrounds, libraries, gyms, comfortable and ergonomic workplace, and frequent outings and workplace fun activities, just to name a few. Most of these avenues must be shocking for government employees or even for those working in the private sector manufacturing setup. For a change, let's talk to someone operating a blast furnace at Tata Steel in Jamshedpur during summers.
With all these and many more amenities, what could still justify such massive employee turnovers?
I reckon, there has to be something fundamentally amiss to continue to make people miserable in these otherwise wonderful settings. It seems that none of the external inducements, including some vulgar salary figures, manage to motivate people to stay back and 'work'.
Is it that employees are increasingly losing 'a sense of purpose'. Is it that they don't seem to understand 'why they are doing what they are doing'? My close interactions with folks in the IT services industry offers some ratification to this hunch, and I am not entirely wrong looking at the sorry state of the industry. And the phenomena may not be limited to this industry.
If talent is so mobile, how can anyone create something enduring? Stability is required at times. It's not just good for employee, but also for the industry at large, for, as in nature, creation calls for gestation.
So, I urge you to re-look at the 'occupation hazard' in the context of your workplace, and see if you have left the question of purposelessness unanswered for far too long!
No comments:
Post a Comment