How Convergys let go a Contributor
By Bala Shah

Ohio head quartered Convergys is one of the most successful BPO’s in the world. Convergys delivers a broad range of customer solutions which include technology, business analytics and consulting.  It employs a workforce of 74,000 at 125 centers in 60 countries across the globe. It has a huge footprint in India with offices in Bangalore, Gurgaon, Hyd, Mumbai, Thane and Pune.

Software giant Microsoft and Citi are among its many blue chip clients.

Bangalore based Bhaskar Baile has initiated legal action against Convergys for letting him go on flimsy pretences.  Techgoss has got hold of all the documents lodged in court and they certainly back up Bhaskar’s claim that he had a great track record at Convergys.

Court documents show that Convergys appointed Bhaskar as Senior Manager – Quality in 2003.  His responsibilities included Call Quality Management activity for Bangalore Center and leading the continuous improvement initiative of Six Sigma for Bangalore Centre.  For the year 2003, Bhaskar was rated as ‘Quality Plus Contributor’. Convergys was so happy with his work that Bhaskar was given an annual salary increase of more than Rs. 2.5 Lakhs in 2004.  (For privacy reasons Techgoss will not publish his exact salary)

Bhaskar was given a rating of “Quality Contributor” for the year 2005 as well.  He was also promoted to the post of Senior Manager Quality – Asia Pacific (Convergys Employee Care / HRM division).  His annual salary was increased by more than Rs. 4 lakh.

In 2006, Bhaskar was granted a performance bonus of Rs. 1.7 Lakh in recognition of his quality performance. Around October 2006,  he was called upon to take up a Project Management role.  For the year 2006,  his annual appraisal  recognized him a “Quality Contributor” and he was also given a performance bonus of Rs. 2 Lakh.

Bhaskar was soon promoted as Director-Business Services effective from April 1, 2007.  The new role as the Head of Payroll Operations for Asia-Pacific Centers included Bangalore, Kuala Lumpur and Dalian with a total team strength of around 60 employees working under him

Techgoss reading of the court documents shows that Bhaskar’s phenomenal success had rubbed up at least one jealous female manager the wrong way.  When the recession struck the world in 2008,  the same star performer was rated as ‘Under Contributor’ and let go rather than given a retrenchment package.

How can any company give a person salary increase of more than Rs. 7 Lakhs and then label him as an Under Contributor?  It makes no sense.  What makes this even more difficult to comprehend is that Bhaskar was hand picked by Convergys as an inaugural speaker at the HR Directors forum in Beijing a few months ago before being suddenly branded an 'under contributor'. 

Techgoss will follow up this case as it winds it way through the judicial system. Bhaskar’s legal case alleges that the company adopted criminal intimidation tactics to force his resignation to avoid payment of a severance package. The case alleges criminal intimidation, discrimination and criminal conspiracy under sections 503 & 506 of the Indian Penal code, in relevance to the manner in which Bhaskar was let go including the impact due to the timing of such action.  Bhaskar was let go just a couple of weeks before he completed 5 years in the company at which point he would have been eligible for multiple benefits.

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