BOBKANNAN BLOGS

I know how terrible unemployment even without the poverty is. One is left with idleness, boredom and also loneliness with 'busy' people looking down at you and also semi employed people feel 'one up' over you. This day changed that lifestyle of mine way back in 1978. I have seen in others what unemployment with poverty is. Sisters teen aged though used to share slippers when they go for special occasions, the only set of dress for both men and women at home used to be preserved again for special occasions. A boy from such a family got a job in Tata Motors (then called Telco) as graduate engineering trainee for Rs.900/-per month stipend. The whole family rejoiced and borrowed money to send him all the way from down south to Tata Nagar to join the job. I waited for my day after genuinely wishing him all the best as I had by then completed a year of unemployment living in three different towns with as many relatives before settling in a small shelter ...

ROLE OF REVIEWING AUTHORITY (RA) When some one is invited for a dinner, even the child in the family is appraising the uncle. Appraisal is everybody’s pleasure. But Performance Appraisal in an organization is a different exercise since it has to be objective and focused. A reviewee has lesser role to play in the effectiveness of the system, as his only job is to know the scores for various activities and act prudently to get the maximum. But for the system of Performance Appraisal to succeed, the other three players have to play their role actively and honestly . It is the job of HR department to have a meaningful appraisal system and equally meaningful implementation and control. RA (Reviewing Authority) whose role is heavy and decisive has to play his part in full and objectively. Ø “When he works with you for the whole year can’t you spare half an hour to write about him?” This question asked by a Chairman to a Works Manager for a sloppy...

In a recent television show on why India did not win medals in Olympics one reporter said, "It is because the officials take decisions for their survival and presence in Olympics arena and be seen in TV when Indians play and not for the benefit of players". This true statement made me wonder how even in Public sector where job rotation as a policy existed, a few managed to survive in the same seat especially in HR which is duty bound to implement the norm. Those were the days when face book, Whats App and RTI were absent. The culture of participative management was on. The unions which came into being to prevent injustice became a power center in due course and thereafter it was virtually joint sharing of power both by management and union. The vast majority of employees were thrown to a situation where they had to flatter either the powers in union or management to get their normal rights enforced be it a loan, bill reimbursements, leave, NOCs   and the worst c...