India Work Culture They say the grass is always greener on the other side. Well, is it?

That depends on what youre looking for. If youre hoping to find a home away from home in a workplace in India, you could end up disillusioned. On the other hand, if youre practical you may just stumble on something within your own comfort one. O!er the last decade, the a!erage Indian jobseeker has got a lot to be grateful for in terms of superior job opportunities, work en!ironment, empathetic bosses and substantial pay packages. The e"plosion of jobs, technology and the ad!ent of multinationals has re!olutioni ed the work culture in India. #s a foreigner or an Indian returning from abroad, the work culture in India can strike you like a bolt from the blue if youre not prepared. $oure better off sticking to the major metropolitan cities like %umbai, &une, 'angalore, (yderabad, )elhi, and *hennai to work in. +maller towns and rural areas may pro!e to be tiresome due to power failures, substandard transportation and communication snags. ,ormerly, the &ublic +ector jobs -go!ernment jobs. were much co!eted owing to the job security and the high wage structures associated with these jobs. (owe!er, if you are a foreigner or an Indian returning from abroad, you can safely assume that these jobs are way out of your league. 'elie!e it or not, these jobs are handed down the generations like family heirlooms. +o, unless you ha!e a grand old godfather or someone with similar clout working in these departments, your odds of getting in are not too bright. #nyway, the work culture in these organi ations lea!es much to be desired. If youre wondering why the tobacco sales in India are on an upward slant, you can thank the hapless workers in these departments, who not only insist on chewing tobacco while attending to customers, but also re!el in spewing tobacco on the walls resulting in painting the surrounding areas with incredible shades of saffron. They follow an /as you like it0 approach towards work, ha!e no regard for punctuality and e"ecute e!ery task as though doing a personal fa!or to the nation. 1e!er mind the comfortable salary and perks not to mention the numerous holidays associated with these jobs, nine out of ten times, youll disco!er these tortured souls complaining about being o!erworked and underpaid and instigating strikes that bring the country to a grinding halt. +o, unless you ha!e a tobacco fi"ation, lea!e these jobs to the locals. There is no dearth of suitable job opportunities in the pri!ate sector. &rofessional or not, looking for a job in India is like looking for lo!e. There is something for e!eryone. $ou ha!e tiny firms, small firms, medium2si ed firms, large firms and multinationals. #s far as possible, you might want to e"cuse yourself from the family businesses and small firms. These firms work on old world philosophies that belie!e in all work and no play, the kind where the boss is the master and the employee a minion. While getting

away with paying a pittance, these firms afford no o!ertime pay while encouraging daily o!ertime. $ou may be asked to show up on +undays and other public holidays without ade3uate compensation. 4mployee bonding, constructi!e criticism, training programs, refreshers and moti!ational meetings are unheard of. The approach is strictly authoritati!e and inter2personal interaction between colleagues may e!en be frowned at. Training is a lu"ury that these firms dont pro!ide. 5enerally, you are unceremoniously put on the job like a babe in the woods and left to fend for yourself. If youre looking for e"perience, if money is not your deciding nature or in general, youre one of those who can gi!e as good as you get then this is the place for you. If not, youre better off elsewhere. #lls not lost though. 6ets not forget the cream jobs. The ones where you get to ha!e your cake, eat it and wash it down with a milkshake. Thanks to the burgeoning '&O, +oftware and Information Technology industries, cities like %umbai, &une, (yderabad, 'angalore and 5urgaon are flooded with a !ariety of jobs. The people applying for these jobs are smart, sa!!y and sophisticated. (ence, there was a need to create a work culture that appealed to this racy set. # place that they would enjoy working at, a place to just be. 1o more %anic %ondays. 1o more Terrible Tuesdays. +o what makes these places different? ,or one, it is finally recogni ed that a happy employee is a producti!e employee. )ont push your employee too hard or you may push him into the open arms of your competitor. The work culture in these industries is all about pleasing the employee. Training programs, attracti!e recreational centres, constructi!e criticism, refresher courses, memberships to clubs and subsidi ed cafeterias are some of the facilities pro!ided to these deser!ing staff members. Interaction between colleagues is encouraged and certain companies ha!e referral schemes wherein employees can refer their friends and get rewarded monetarily. The dress code is semi2formal, the language /hip0 and employers are addressed by their first names. )ating and hanging out with team members is fre3uent. #nd the cherry on the icing is the fat pay packages that come promptly at the end of the month. +ome ha!e been known to use these workplaces to escape from home. +o, if you are among those who are known to spend more than 78 waking hours at work then you may be interested in what these ultra2cool, ultra2modern organi ations ha!e to offer. Whats more, you may e!en meet your potential best friend, your confidante or your spouse at one of these places9 'roadly, the work culture in India can be discerned from the following areas: Time Management Indian +tretchable Time has been known to dri!e some up the wall. Indians in general, are not sticklers for punctuality. This permeates the work culture as well.

6ate2coming while not encouraged is not punished either. #fter all, the traffic pro!ides a ready e"cuse to anyone whos looking for one. This fre3uently leads to o!ertime hours e!en when the job could be completed within normal work hours. # 'usiness %eeting beginning half an hour after the scheduled time is not uncommon. Dress Code Office2goers in India generally dress in semi2formals. +hirts and trousers for men and Western or Indian attire for the women. *asuals are permitted on weekends. Our climate does not permit the use of hea!y suits and bla ers. 6inen and cotton are the preferred materials. Wear a business suit in summer and you could end up melting in the heat. Meals at the Workplace In smaller organi ations, the /lunch2hour0 is a source of camaraderie and amusement. $oull come across people clustered in groups gossiping and sharing their lunch2bo"es. 4!erything from the price of !egetables to the grouchy boss is discussed in low whispers. The /Tiffin system0 wherein stay2at2home moms prepare food, package it and send it to the workplace is gaining popularity. This system allows you to sa!or a home2cooked meal at a relati!ely low price. %ultinationals ha!e cafeterias which offer !egetarian and non2!egetarian fare at subsidi ed rates. Inter-personal Relations and Communication In traditional firms employees address their bosses as /+ir0 or /%adam0. (owe!er, being on a first name basis with your boss is catching up. This trend began with the arri!al of the '&O ; IT industries in India. Indians communicate with a combination of 4nglish and (indi or some other regional language. The typical Indian is born in3uisiti!e. %ost will not shy away from in3uiring about your marital status, family, health, dogs, cats or anything else that may fuel their curiosity. +ome will e!en offer unsolicited ad!ice on your personal life. The secret to enjoying a good working e"perience in India is: Infuse a few words of (indi or some other local language into your speech. It e"udes a semblance of brotherhood and gains you acceptance by your colleagues especially in a place like %umbai.

Try to be tolerant of distorted time2schedules. Indians dont belie!e in speed. +o, take your time and smell the roses. +ince most people here are family2oriented< so, in3uire about your colleagues families. This will help you score brownie points with them. )ont be too offended if your peer tries to get too personal. (e is probably trying to make con!ersation and break the ice. 'e polite but firm. #fter all, its not absolutely necessary to di!ulge your biography. 6unchtime is a great way to get to know your colleagues better. =se it to your ad!antage. )o your homework and always look up the company you plan to work with. #!oid signing any hasty contracts or youll ha!e plenty of time to repent in leisure.