Linde India, an industrial gases company, and the Indian Oxygen Workers Union have finalised a new salary agreement. The agreement introduces significant improvements in employee compensation and benefits. The agreement will be in effect for 3.5 years. As part of this agreement, employees will receive a monthly gross salary increase of Rs 5,800, along with two increments in their basic pay. The leave travel allowance has been raised from Rs 21,000 to Rs 27,000. In cases of death during service, employees’ families will be entitled to compensation equivalent to 48 months of gratuity pay. The retirement benefits for employees have…
Author: HRK News Bureau
Intel is reportedly preparing to implement significant job cuts in Ireland. This decision is said to be a part of its extensive reorganisation, which seeks to optimise operations and improve the company’s financial health. The company is anticipated to evaluate applications for voluntary severance based on its business needs, which means that not all employees who apply for voluntary leave may be approved. The impact on Intel’s workforce in Ireland could be considerable. It is projected that approximately 700 employees at Intel’s Leixlip facility may face compulsory layoffs. This figure is part of a global workforce reduction plan by Intel,…
Population Services International India (PSI India) has achieved a significant milestone. The company has become the first non-governmental organisation (NGO) in India to be awarded the esteemed “Happiest Places to Work®” certification. This certification highlights PSI India’s dedication to cultivating a workplace environment that emphasises employee well-being, inclusivity and engagement. PSI India received the recognition after an anonymous employee happiness survey. The survey used a unique framework developed by the Happiness Research Academy. This thorough process ensures the certification reflects genuine employee feedback and accurately measures their satisfaction levels. Mukesh Kumar Sharma, executive director, PSI India, expressed pride in this…
The Government of Japan is really worried about the labour shortage in the country. Therefore, it is urging more employers to embrace a four-day work week. Organisations are being encouraged to allow their employees to take at least three days off, if not four. The Japanese are labelled as workaholics. In fact, the culture of hard work is so ingrained that people are known to literally work themselves to death. With the dearth of labour threatening to affect the economy, the government is pushing organisations to embrace a four-day workweek. Though the idea of shorter workweeks was mooted at least…
Union Minister for Labour and Employment Mansukh Mandaviya has conveyed that the government is looking at ways to provide social security benefits to the gig and platform workers of the country. According to Mandaviya, as part of the government’s endeavour to ensure the well-being of gig and platform workers, the process of their registration will be facilitated by the eShram portal. Aggregators that rely heavily on gig and platform workers will be asked to register their employees on this portal using the online window provided for the purpose. The Labour Ministry will be working with all concerned to create a…
As part of its yearly performance-review, Goldman Sachs is going to let go at least 1,300 employees. The process of layoffs has already begun, and the number of employees impacted may even go up to 1,800 by the end of it all. While these job cuts may trim the present workforce by three to four per cent, the exercise will not affect the bank’s hiring plans, which will see the team size increasing by the end of the year. According to the Wall Street Journal, the layoffs will affect several divisions of the bank. Such job cuts are not unheard…
A new simplified pension- application form for retiring employees is set to be launched by the Central government on Friday, 30 August 2024. The form, which consolidates nine existing forms into a single format, streamlining the process for Central government employees who are approaching retirement. This initiative is part of the government’s ongoing efforts to enhance efficiency and reduce bureaucratic procedures in line with its “maximum governance-minimum government” policy. The Department of Pension & Pensioners’ Welfare has introduced this new form, known as Form 6-A, which was initially announced in a notification dated 16 July, 2024. As per the recent…
Allcargo Gati, an express distribution and supply chain management company in India, is anticipating a substantial rise in shipments during the upcoming festive season. The aim is to enhance the efficiency of order processing and last-mile delivery operations. In preparation for the surge in demand, Allcargo Gati has taken strategic measures to expand its workforce and operational capabilities. The company has increased its manpower-supply services by adding six new providers, enabling it to recruit over 3,000 additional employees for various operational roles. This hiring drive is part of a broader effort to scale up staffing in response to the anticipated…
Hisar Municipal Corporation has recently issued a dress code notification in Haryana. The directive prohibits employees from wearing jeans during office hours. However, it has met with strong opposition from various quarters. The directive was issued by Vaishali Sharma, an IAS officer from the 2017 Haryana cadre. She directed that all officers and employees must adhere to a formal dress code during their duty hours, explicitly stating that jeans and similar casual attire should not be worn at work. The move was justified by a municipal officer as necessary to maintain “official decorum.” Employee groups have raised concerns and demanded…
The Allahabad High Court has recently passed a crucial judgement in employee transfers based on seniority. The Court emphasised that while employee transfers within a company are permissible, they must be conducted without compromising the employees’ seniority or altering their original positions. The case involves employees from Purvanchal Vidyut Vitaran Nigam, an electricity distribution company (DISCOM) based in Varanasi, who challenged their transfers to different zones. The employees argued that the transfer policy from 2019-2020 was outdated and no longer valid. They claimed that their transfers, which were based on this old policy and extended by a circular issued on…
An employee shared on social media their experience of being reprimanded by their manager for leaving the office a minute early. The post quickly went viral, receiving over 7,000 upvotes, sparking a lively discussion on Reddit. The employee revealed that they had received an email from their manager pointing out that they had been clocking out before their scheduled time of 5 pm on several occasions. The email reminded the employee that early departures without approval should not become a habit. It further cited company’s policy that requires technicians to remain until their designated time unless a request is formally…
Tata Projects has launched a comprehensive upskilling initiative to empower its workforce and promote sustainable practices within the construction industry. The primary objective of the upskilling programme is to improve employability by equipping workers with specialised skills in construction. The initiative is designed to create a skilled talent pool, enhance site management, and provide financial support to workers through comprehensive training and accredited certifications. Furthermore, it’ll enable them to advance their careers into higher positions and better-paying jobs. Currently, the programme is being implemented at Tata Projects’ Chennai Metro Rail project site, in Madhavaram. Additionally, about 25 trainees are receiving…
The jobs of government employees and bank staff members who were employed based on their scheduled caste/scheduled tribe (SC/ST) certificates in the 1978-87 period, are safe. The Supreme Court bench comprising Justices Hima Kohli and Sandeep Mehta pointed out that the petitioners had been appointed based on certificates issued by the Karnataka government, which were valid at the time of appointment and in alignment with the laws of the state at the time. Therefore, their jobs had to be protected. The said employees of Canara Bank, Oriental Insurance Co. and Hindustan Aeronautics (HAL) had secured jobs during the 1978 –…
Apple, the iPhone manufacturer, is shifting production activity from China to India. Yes, the company will produce its iPhone Pro models in India till March 2025. And this means, it will end up creating six lakh jobs. Of these, two lakh will be direct jobs, with women forming 70 per cent of the workforce. With each of the two lakh direct jobs set to give rise to three indirect jobs, Apple’s diversification of production from China to India is surely going to augur well for our country. Clearly, Apple has made up its mind to increasing manufacturing in India. Apple…
SpiceJet has asked 150 members of its cabin crew to go on leave without pay (LWP) for three months, as a measure to deal with its present financial crisis and lessor issues. The carrier is also operating lesser number of aircraft, that is, only about 22 planes. During the furlough period, these employees will continue to receive health benefits and their earned leave will not be affected in any way. The airline has reportedly assured that the once the fleet has been enhanced post the planned qualified institutional placement or QIP, the cabin crew members will be able to resume…
With Peter M Fasolo, executive vice president and chief human resources officer, Johnson & Johnson (J&J), set to superannuate at the end of this year, after 16 years of service, the company has elevated Kristen Mulholland to step into his shoes. Kristen Mulholland has been head of human resources, global total rewards, Johnson & Johnson, since 2019. She has been successfully handling compensation, benefits, global health services, as well as acquisitions and divestitures for almost five years now. She is also part of the human resources executive leadership team and headed a team of 400+ HR leaders. Mulholland’s career began…
Vodafone Idea has launched a new employee stock option plan for employees. The plan named ‘Vodafone Idea Employee Stock Option and Performance Stock Unit Scheme 2024,’ will issue up to 34.85 crore shares, representing 0.50 per cent of the company’s equity share capital. The scheme has received approval from the company’s board of directors and will be extended to eligible employees of Vodafone Idea, including those in its subsidiaries and associate companies. Under the plan, the exercise price for stock options will be determined based on the market price of the shares one day before the grant date. For performance…
NxtWave, an Indian tech education startup is collaborating with the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) for ‘NxtWave SkillUp India 4.0’, an initiative that aims to empower over 30 lakh students in India. The initiative transcends conventional learning by conducting employability tests, workshops and hackathons across 3000 colleges in the country, influencing millions of students nationwide. With more than 500 prominent companies participating in job fairs and 1000+ partners offering employment opportunities, NxtWave is seamlessly connecting students and the job market. Underlining its commitment to quality education and training for all, NxtWave is offering free access to premium tech programmes, including…
An assistant professor at a Bengaluru engineering college handed in his resignation after a decade of sincere service. Why? He got no pay hike in the last 10 years! As if that wasn’t enough, he was not entertained whenever he wished to discuss the matter with the college principal. Therefore, the professor does not know why his salary remained stagnant when even his juniors earned more than he did. The said professor had always received a positive feedback from students and had worked hard, putting in extra hours. Yet, no increments came his way. He was not paid any Employees’…
Google’s DeepMind division is facing significant internal unrest at the moment. Over 200 of its employees have signed an open letter opposing the company’s involvement with military organisations. According to a Time Magazine report, the letter, dated 16 May, expresses concerns over the potential use of DeepMind’s AI technology for military purposes, which reportedly violates Google’s own AI standards. Hence, the employees are urging DeepMind’s leadership to investigate claims of military use of Google Cloud services. Furthermore, they have demanded that a new governance framework be implemented to prevent future technologies from being used for military applications. However, Google had…
Bharti Airtel is set to exit the music-streaming market with plans to shut down its Wynk Music app. The move is expected to be implemented in the next couple of months. While this marks a significant shift in Airtel’s business strategy, the company has assured that there will be no layoffs. As per the company’s plans, all employees currently working with Wynk Music will be absorbed into various roles within the broader Airtel ecosystem. The move has been announced to safeguard their jobs and ensure that no one is left unemployed due to this decision. This strategic exit from the…
While no decision has yet been taken by the Rajasthan government regarding the Unified Pension Scheme or UPS, the upper limit for gratuity has been increased to Rs 25 lakhs from the current Rs 20 lakhs for state government staff. This is the same as the gratuity limit of Central government employees. The Rajasthan government has also decided on a 10 per cent increase in family pension, which is paid to the surviving spouse of a deceased state government employee. The maximum limit for the outpatient department (OPD) medical expenses has also been hiked to Rs 30,000 per year for…
The Rogi Kalyan Samiti (RKS) employees at Indira Gandhi Medical College Hospital (IGMCH) in Shimla, have announced a strike from Tuesday, 27 August, until 31 August 31, between 8 AM and 2 PM. This planned four-hour daily strike is likely to disrupt health services at one of the state’s key medical facilities. The RKS workers’ union called the strike to voice their concerns against the hospital management’s failure to meet their long-standing demand for a pay band increase. The 55 RKS employees, all on contract, have not had pay adjustments for years despite essential roles such as ward boys and…
Apple recently laid off around 100 employees from its services division, a rare move for the tech giant. The layoffs, which occurred on Tuesday, 27 August, mainly affected employees in senior vice president Eddy Cue’s services group. The cuts were spread across several teams, with the most significant impact on the team responsible for the Apple Books app and Apple Bookstore. According to a report on Bloomberg, Apple decided to downsize these teams as it shifts its focus within the services division. While Apple Books will continue to receive updates and new features, it is no longer a priority for…
There is a nationwide strike call by the All India Bank Employees Association (AIBEA) today, that is, 28 August 2024. The employees are protesting the chargesheeting of 13 office bearers of the staff union of Bank of India, Kerala. Members of about five other bank unions are participating in the strike, including the United Forum of Bank Unions, All India Bank Officers Confederation, the National Confederation of Bank Employees, the Bank Employees Federation of India, and the All India Bank Officers Association. It is reported that The Bank of India Staff Union-Kerala, which is affiliated to AIBEA, had circulated a…
Does the new Unified Pension Scheme (UPS) rolled out by the Central government lack clarity? The members of the Andhra Pradesh Contributory Pension Scheme Employees’ Association (AP CPSEA) definitely seem to think so. In fact, the Association has refused to accept the UPS and wants to have the Old Pension Scheme (OPS) restored. As per The Hindu, the AP CPSEA feels that the UPS expects an employee to give up all that they have earned over a 35-40 year service period to the government. The members of the Association feel that the scheme does not benefit the employees unless the…