A Hybrid Workplace for New-Gen Employees: Jaipuria Institute organizes HR Conclave

Lucknow: With the changing mode of work from physical to digital, the HR personnel are working hard to make the work-life balance. Many firms are now frequently surveying employees to gather feedback to understand how the work models and turbulence in the macro-environment are affecting employee decisions. It is being observed that the employees at various levels are willing to quit the job or switch to some other organization/business post-pandemic. To prepare the companies for the upcoming shift, it's important to start by understanding the reasons why employees may be ready to leave their jobs in a post-pandemic job market. Unless changes take place at the current workplace, the employees are likely to create a fresh start by seeking out new career options.

A Hybrid Workplace for New-Gen Employees

Focused on the Hybrid Work Mode-related challenges and opportunities, a National HR Conclave was organized at Jaipuria Institute of Management Lucknow on October 23, 2021.

The conclave dwelled upon the following issues: Is the hybrid work model suitable for all types of organizations and economies? What are its pros and cons? Whether hybrid work model can be effective in engaging employees in the long term? Would emerging economies experience a deluge of talent attrition like developed economies? What can preempt it? What Indian organizations are doing to engage and bond the New Gen Workforce? Etc.

The conclave began with the opening remarks by Dr. Kavita Pathak, Director, Jaipuria Institute of Management, Lucknow. She enumerated the possible pros and cons of the sudden shift caused and talent retention which is extremely essential within an organization. Dr. Pathak further honoured the eminent guests with Green certificates.

Dr. Manisha Seth, Area Chair, Human Resource & Organizational Behaviour Area at Jaipuria initiated the theme by saying "During the Pandemic, the Workplace has undergone massive disruption and the very meaning and definition of work, workplace and working hours is not the same. The clarion call for the HR function is now to communicate, partner and have empathy with the employees to understand well the shift in their priorities and to help them heal".

Mr. Prem Singh, President, Group HR at JK organization was invited as the keynote speaker of the conclave. While addressing the conclave he said, "We conducted a survey on around 2000 employees where they were asked to share their experience of work from home. Around 64% of them didn't want to solely work from home (WFH), instead, they wanted to be able to work from anywhere (WFA) i.e. office, home, coffee shop, hotel, or any other place".

Soon after the keynote address, a panel discussion on "New Gen Employee in the Hybrid Workplace: Expectations, Challenges, and Opportunities" was started.

Dr. VP Singh, Distinguished Professor, Jaipuria Institute of Management; and Mr. Prasoon M Tripathi, Vice President - HR, Pan Campus Dean (Development) at Jaipuria were among the conclave mentors. The conclave panelists included Mr. Prashant Pandey, President, Rotostat Services Pvt. Ltd (Manpower Group); Ms. Prachi Bawari, Director Human Resources, Crisil Ltd.; Ms. Lopamudra Banerjee, CHRO, Carrier Midea India; and Mr. Abhishek, Chief Operating Officer at Eli Lilly Services, India.

Mr. Shaakun Khanna, Leader of HCM Strategy & Transformation, Asia Pacific, Oracle Corporation said, "We came out of a pandemic crisis and entered a workplace crisis. The new generation has so many opportunities in this new era but in a confusing environment. People are looking at new skills and career changes. Interesting models will show up in the coming days".

Mr. Prashant Pandey, President, Rotostat Services Pvt. Ltd (Manpower Group) said, "How well do we network matters a lot irrespective of the workplace. A hybrid work model will be the future of working".

"There are many benefits and challenges of the Hybrid model. The Hybrid work model gives the best of both worlds. However, there is a need to build a great environment to work for employees' chosen place", said Ms. Prachi Bawari, Director Human Resources, Crisil Ltd.

Ms. Lopamudra Banerjee, CHRO, Carrier Midea India said that technology is now being used to leverage every aspect of the business. There is a mindset shift that is required to keep the new-gen employees adept with the dynamic work environment. Frequent communication with the distributed workforce worked wonders in managing an organization.

Mr. Abhishek, Chief Operating Officer at Eli Lilly Services, India said that the majority of hiring took place in the past 1 year, 90 per cent of employees have not seen the office environment. But now, it is a mix of flexible working in the organizations. Hybrid is the new normal. Initially, there was enthusiasm to work from home, but soon it faded away and instilled the need for a hybrid mode of working."

At the end of the conclave, souvenirs were presented to the speakers. The conclave concluded with the fact that a hybrid work model is the need of today, and it will stay for long. However, there are various challenges which needs to be addressed in order to get the best of this model.

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