WORK FOR A BETTER WORLD

A LOT IS SAID AND WRITTEN WHEN THE HIGHER RANKS OF LARGE ORGANISATIONS GET INVOLVED IN SOCIAL WORK. BUT THEN THERE ARE ALSO EMPLOYEES WHO ARE CHIPPING IN ACTIVELY TOWARDS ISSUES OF SOCIAL SIGNIFICANCE, IN MORE WAYS THAN ONE, WITHOUT MAKING MUCH NOISE! “EMPLOYEE PHILANTHROPY” IS THE LATEST TREND CATCHING UP IN INDIA INC.

It’s said that it’s always better to give than receive. In social psychology the term reciprocity represents the ideal that positive actions will inspire reciprocal positive actions. A theory that is encouraging many employees of corporate India to go beyond just making money. They aspire to make a difference to the community, while helping their organisation with the responsibility revolution (read: CSR initiatives). In doing so, employees affirm, they learn critical career enhancing skills like leading through tough times, managing with few resources and inspiring others with a common sense of purpose. Tushar Guha, Founder & MD, Nrityanjali Management Services (NMS), a training and consultancy firm says that being a part of any philanthropic activity creates a sense of belonging for the employee, builds teamspirit and ultimately, enhances employee productivity. Girish Dalvi, Head-Operations, who organises several cultural events for the residents of old age homes and orphanages couldn’t have agreed more. “I spend a lot of time performing folk and classical dances for them,” he says. “Being a part of such initiatives has given me tremendous confidence and even enhanced my communication skills. It has also helped me become a better administrator. I am also able to understand, appreciate and accept different viewpoints, as I have become more sensitive towards the needs of others.” “Other than being a provider of information technology services and business solutions, Perot Systems also works with ‘Deeksha’ (an NGO that addresses environmental and educational issues). Their association with the NGO has provided employees a new outlook to life and a framework for character building. Though, being a team leader at Perot has helped me achieve a lot in my career, my role as the service project coordinator at Deeksha has helped me become a better employee,” says Madhavi, Team Leader, Perot Systems. “The children I worked with at Deeksha have helped me perceive things, in a more positive light and also, changed my approach towards my work, in a good way,” she adds. “Volunteering programmes that use and hone skills are an effective and inexpensive professional development tool. Fostering team spirit is possibly one of the most visible qualities that emanate when employees participate in community programmes,” says Deepanshu Sharma, GM Marketing Strategy, AMD, a Bangalore based micro-processor provider. AMD has been a part of many initiatives, including working with non-profit organisations like ‘Trees-for-Free’, ‘People for Animals’ and ‘Parikrma Humanity Foundation’, which is dedicated to the cause of providing topquality English education to poor children. “Being a part of these philanthropic activities has made me realise that every small story of their success acts as an encouragement tool and gives us hope to keep our commitment towards achieving milestones by marginalising our problems. The process of leading the community activities at AMD has given me an opportunity to hone my leadership and inter-personal skills,” says Milind Nagda, Senior Design Engineer at AMD. As these cases illustrate, employees now want to work for and support organisations that share their ethical values, besides other things. They also want to be part of a cause that can make a bigger difference to their work experience.

POSTED BY :PALLAVI SINGH

PGDM 3 SEM, 'B'