TCS and HCL among best UK firms
By Techgirl

UK based CRF works out a best employers list in many countries. It claims its independent research is also audited by Grant Thornton. According to CRF, ‘using international standards, the Top Employers project identifies the front-runners in excellent HR management. Our unique approach is characterized by HR policy based research, objectivity and an independent assessment’.

The CRF Institute was founded in 1991, and it says that more than 2,500 leading organisations around the world have participated in its Top Employer projects. It operates in 13 countries on four continents. The headquarters are based in the Netherlands.

As most of Techgoss readers are of Indian origin, they are well aware of all the good and bad things that happen in Indian companies.  While some Indian IT and BPO companies have a confident, mature leadership which leads by example and shares the profits, others are run by managers who are sexist, tribal and believe in management by fear.

So, imagine my surprise when I read an article in India’s leading newspaper that TCS was one of the Top 5 Employers in UK.  I was especially surprised as this news is more than 5 weeks old.  Why and how was this ‘news’ placed in such a powerful newspaper 5 weeks after the event?

If you check the CRF Institute website, you will see that not only TCS, but even HCL is rated as among the best employers in United Kingdom.  How did this happen?

According to CRF, TCS was chosen for

“
•Outstanding Working Conditions
•Value and an ethical approach to work, customers, employees and the external community
•Excellence in service delivery
•Investing in people and career development
•Creating stakeholder value
•A ‘make it happen’ culture
“

And HCL was chose for its outstanding working conditions as well including the following

“
•It’s “Employee First” philosophy
•The ability to source operations almost anywhere
•Breadth of outsourcing capabilities
•The egalitarian principles on which the company is run
•The:”family feel” in the organisation
•A true trust and transparency model
“

While HCL has many positive HR initiatives and TCS is the most successful Indian tech company, I still cannot fathom the logic of their being among the ‘Best Employers’ in United Kingdom. Especially, when tech majors like Google and Facebook are not on the list.

Techgoss note:  Techgirl is a senior Tech journalist who reports on the IT, KPO and KPO Sectors for a leading media house.  In her spare time, she dabbles in satire in her blog techgirltalk.blogspot.com.  Techgirl has been ejected from Twitter for satirizing an Indian Minister.  Her satire blog has links to her Times of India interview detailing her being kicked out of Twitter, and then being invited back.