IT's Great Places to Work

[dwarakesh]

Great Place To Work Institute, the US-based institute that ranks Best Workplaces globally, has been around in India for six years. However, this is the first time that this study is being done in the middle of a global economic downturn of such magnitude. Last year, when the study was done, one was talking about hyper growth and multiplying job offers, as salaries zoomed and attrition surged, staff retention and engagement was the biggest worry for CEOs.

Since then Business World has changed significantly. The last one year globally, and past 6-9 months, have been unprecedented trying for the companies across the globe. The period has been no less stressful for IT companies. The sector's biggest market US and biggest vertical BFSI have been the biggest causality of the economic downturn.

However, the sector despite a few blips continues to shine. The industry has as many as five companies in the top 10 Great Place to Work list and as many as 18 in the top 50, more than any other sector.

[dwarakesh]

RMSI Pvt Ltd

The no. 1 great place to work for is Noida-based geo-spatial and IT maven, RMSI. The company not only the top list in great IT workplaces, but also the over all list.

The Rs 104-crore company, which is yet to figure among the IT heavyweights, has bagged the `Best Employer' tag three years in a row. As for what makes it a great work place is a terrific mix of independence and strong working ethos, along with flexibility to satiate one's entrepreneurial streak.

People can walk up to the senior management and discuss ideas to improve existing systems and processes. During the current downturn, the company's MD and COO proactively addressed the employees and encouraged them to give their suggestions and feedback on prudent ways of controlling costs.

Employees rave about the company's Performance Management System. Apart from employees being able to calculate their own bonus, the process of observation ensures fairness and transparency in feedback sharing with the employee.

[dwarakesh]

Intel India

The no. 2 on the Great Places to Work list is Intel India. The company which is rated best for Work Life Balance Intel believes that none of its employees actually leave their personality at home and come to work. Hence, efforts are constantly driven towards assimilating the culture of Intel along with different kinds of personalities in the organisation.

Anish R, HR Director, South Asia, Intel, says that managing the 'life requirements' of employees is a big driving factor for them and all their activities are guided around this philosophy. The company has a strong emphasis on family, extra-curricular activities and volunteerism

The culture at Intel has always been open with communication becoming very integral to the whole organisation. There are regular business update meetings every quarter, along with dissemination of corporate information worldwide giving enough clarity to the employees.

[dwarakesh]

Google India

The third IT company in the Great Places to Work list is Google. Fifth in the overall ranking, Google has always strived to create the atmosphere of freedom with a sense of empowerment for its employees.

According to Shailesh Rao, MD, Google India, there are four key characteristics they look at for in any prospective employee -- purpose driven, cognitive ability, requisite work experience and leadership qualities. In essence, Google always look for smart and exceptional people.

The entrepreneurial fervour runs very strongly within Google giving its people the maximum flexibility in terms of the work they would like to do. This is ably aided by lesser levels of managerial team allowing a free flow of information within the organisation. For example, appraisals in Google are not done just by the superiors but also by the peers and subordinates.

[dwarakesh]

Qualcomm India Pvt Ltd

At no. 4 is Qualcomm India. Mumbai-based telecom company ranks at no. 6 in the overall survey list. At a time when various companies are laying off people, Qualcomm is reversing its role. In fact, the company is increasing investment in new ventures, CSR activities and doling out appraisals-twice a year.

It has even doubled the life insurance coverage to twice the gross salary of employees. The telecom major's Indian arm plans to emulate the 'Global Intern Program' , which involves offering interns the same benefits as regular employees, like stock options, relocation and housing assistance. Almost 30% of interns are absorbed in the company.

To satisfy the entrepreneurial quest of employees, Qualcomm has started a QIN or, Qualcomm Innovation Network to help brilliant minds start their own 'companies' within the company. As part of the annual QIN Day, the companies start trading on a virtual exchange and employees buy their shares. The company with the highest 'share price' gets funded and Qualcomm helps the company to bring it to market.

Apart from offering the work from home option, it's the environment at Qualcomm that makes people stick on.

[dwarakesh]

NetApp India

The fifth best IT company to work for ranks at no. 9 on the overall Great Places to Work list. Trust and integrity, among the other things, are the key elements of NetApp's culture.

During its recent global restructuring, which saw them letting go 6% of their workforce, they took utmost care so as to see that that the affected employees were not being left high and dry. To quote an example, they even allowed their employees to download whatever they had on their computers without any kind of interference or monitoring from the HR department.

This handholding is also extended to the inducted employee who is given further integration by a senior employee of the company, in what is known as TOASTtraining on all special things

[dwarakesh]

Bharti Airtel

At no. 6 (11th on the overall list) is Sunil Bharti Mittal's homegrown telecom empire Bharti Airtel. Talk therapy works best as the Bharti rank and file weave a common dream with immense pride. While that silhouettes a vision of transparency and growth, the 'linking up India' credo of the company fires up patriotic passion.

The company lives up to its `Express Yourself' tagline by directing function-specific recruitment tools to distinguish high potential candidates in specific jobs. Again, tools like skip level meetings (employees get to meet their skip or one level above their reporting managers) and reverse mentoring for mobile business board members by the younger generation, provide a level playing field across generations.

[dwarakesh]

Agilent Technologies

At no. 12 on the over all list, Agilent Technologies is the seventh best technology workplace. The new-age Agilent is at the helm of cutting-edge science and technological innovation and application. With the average age at 28 years, the tech czar leverages technology to enable information exchange, transparency, empowerment, collaboration and employee development.

Generation Y (Gen Y), 50% of Agilent's workforce, naturally is at its core. So, all initiatives are directed to touch the youth. That includes compensatory off and travel during weekdays. Also, employees are given four hours of paid time off every month to work on Agilent's CSR initiatives.

[dwarakesh]

Corbus India Pvt Ltd

At no. 17 on the over all list is Corbus India. Plug in to work and play in equal degree. Corbus India's transparent and accessible management culture has produced a fun and friendly place to work where employees rave about their professional growth and the spirit of oneness.

High on the ex-factor, flowers and missing-you-cards are sent out for former employees. The twin recreation clubs - Chaupal and Taffari - are also quite a draw, as are in-house functions like 'Family Day', wherein spouse and kids visit the workplace.

[dwarakesh]

Tavant Technologies Pvt Ltd

At no. 18th on the overall list is Tavant Technologies. Tavant employees supported by accessible managers work hard and party harder. About 60% of employees can work from home and almost everyone uses some aspect of their flexible working policy.

The top 10 per cent key performers in the company - `Bar Raisers' - form part of the selection process (mandatory). They have a veto power in the selection and direct access to the CEO in case of nonconcurrence in hiring. Tavant has an internal whitepaper contest that helps employees venture into new areas, especially emerging technologies that they may not be exposed to in their current projects. Those who submit well-researched whitepapers gain recognition and attractive prizes.

[dwarakesh]

MindTree Ltd

At no. 19 on the overall list is MindTree. Exemplary when it comes to cascading values down to the lowest level of employee, MindTree lives by its DNA of imagination, action and joy. At its core, lie the much touted CLASS values - Caring, Learning, Achieving, Sharing and Social Responsibility.

In the PAL (Parent, Anchor and Leader) induction programme, each batch is divided into three houses (the Houses of Imagination, Action and Joy) and each house has 200 campus minds and a PAL (Parent, Anchor and Leader). But the minds are without fear as both immediate and long-term goals are addressed. Hence, short-term projects and practices as well as longer-term objectives of instilling self-leadership, values and professionalism, are given their due.

[dwarakesh]

iNautix Technologies India Pvt Ltd

At no. 20 on the overall list is iNautix Technologies. Techies with a common takeout, those who work for iNautix are ecstatic. The CSR programme too gets a decent round of applause from the employees.

The company's informal mentoring programme provides opportunities to all global employees regardless of their location, level, business or function. Mentors and mentees are paired through an automated 'matching' system called the informal mentoring system (IMS). The mentor-mentee relationship then blooms into a positive equation for long-term objectives of the company.

[dwarakesh]

Accenture Services

Accenture Services ranks in the following 25 in the over all list Employees are spoilt for choices when it comes to development options. Accenture has all the making of a great workplace, albeit institutionalising workplace fairness for such a huge workforce continues to be a challenge.

Acclaris Business Solutions

Workplace camaraderie and transparency offers a great environment. The company stands out for its policy to hire people from socially and financially weaker sections

[dwarakesh]

Infosys Technologies

Employees know when it comes to the crunch, management will always keep their interests in mind. World class facilities, the professional development of staff, or protecting jobs, the management has always walked the talk.

Intelnet Global Services

Intelenet has shown remarkable orientation in combining the use of scientific assessment tools, measurement techniques, with human touch, in their hiring and development of employees.

[dwarakesh]

Intuit Technologies Services

There is no hierarchy evident in Intuit Technologies Services, everybody is very friendly and easily approachable, as Intuit Follows an open door policy.

LG Electronics India

LG has built a reputation for customer orientation and service. This coupled with robust training & development initiatives and a culture of gain sharing , infuses a sense of collective ownership among the employees.

[dwarakesh]

Paypal India

Pay Pal India offers quite an impressive repertoire in the areas of employee development, an environment of fun at the workplace. However, scaling up successfully will be its true baptism by fire.

TCS-BPO

High standards of ethics. There is special focus on keeping Gen Y engaged by offering them a foreseeable career path & development. Amazing degree of collaboration between management & employees.

ValueLabs

One of the few Indian companies to offer significant work-life balance and flexibility to employees. Employees appreciate the facilities including free food and cab facility being provided by the organisation.