Question 1: As a leader at SEW Overdrive India, what are some of the recent initiatives you have taken in making sure that your people remain fully "productive", "engaged" and also boost their morale?
We have undertaken the following initiatives to improve employee engagement:

1. Good Working climate, easy access to management
2. Values of openness, empowerment, high ethics, teamwork are practiced regularly
3. 5 working days gives them good time to unwind on the long week end
4. Performance Management System and incentives linked to company targets

Question 2: Organizations these days are facing high rate of attrition. What steps and policies have you put in place to ensure that the rate of attrition is substantially reduced?
Reasonable rate of attrition is actually good for organization typically of our type and size. Average 10-12% attrition rate is healthy which allows the employees to grow and move in other positions which is very important to retain them in a flat organization structure like ours having less work levels in the hierarchy. This year the attrition till now is in the same band but the I foresee higher extrapolated number for the year which is surely a worry but very difficult to retain them as they always get better salaries and positions in other company's who are bigger than our size. Finally it all depends on the business model of sales and profitability which decided how much amount can be spent in the personnel cost. We also do compensation benchmark surveys to justify the salary levels. We have given interim salary corrections to some deserving employees in line with recent benchmarks done.

 

Question 3: Do you think the academic establishments in the country produce candidates with the potential ability required to make a career in your organization?

Yes, I believe that the students coming out of our educational institutions have what it takes to compete globally.

 

Question 4: Apart from material incentives what is the single non-tangible factor, which ensures loyalty of employees towards the organization?
I strongly believe that a favorable working climate, freedom and autonomy in taking up new initiatives and strong organizational values ensure loyalty towards the organization.

 

Question 5: What strategies and policies have you introduced to ensure that there is a smooth complimentary functioning of Gen X and Gen Y?
Compensation benchmark, Internal benchmark, competency and skill mapping gives us lot of insight which ensures smooth functioning between these generations