Why Working For An Indian Company Doesn't Work!

Most Indians have a dream to work for a foreign multinational. It is beyond understanding why is it really so?

Having experienced working in an American company and an Indian company, both publicly listed and more than $1 billion in turnover (revenue), I have my own unique experiences. I had discussed this with a lot of colleagues and I couldn’t really come to any conclusion. The only solid inference that I could come down to is, culture.

There is a huge difference between western professional culture and Indian work culture.

Western culture has historically been individualist and America is known for its very high level of individualism. I guess that helps a lot when it comes to professional sphere of life, ie work.

Innovation has historically happened from individualist societies. Individualist societies have also been one of the happiest countries in the world, whatever survey you might consider or experience empirical evidence for the same.

Image Credit: Bottoms Up!

Hence, I think it is pointless to understand when many Indians complain, or rather talk on stuff like, ‘the western world does not enjoy or they are not happy people’.

Just a few pointers on the basic stuff that I intend to write upon, the difference between American and Indian firms…

American/Western firms:

•        More importance given to a person’s professional life than personal life
•        Timings are secondary, work is primary
•        Flexibility when it comes to leaves
•        Objectivity everywhere
•        More respect for the individual
•        Efforts always on to make a ‘fun workplace’
•        Devoid of hierarchy
•        No issues with regards to compensation, pay on a higher side
•        International travel encouraged
•        Autonomy/decentralization; more power to employees
•        Work hard Monday to Friday
•        Firing the non-performers

Yes, for most who have been familiar to this debate must have realized that this is purely a contrast to what Indian firms are. In fact, just write the opposite sentence of what you read for American firms above and you will inevitably land up writing characteristics of Indian firms.

Take reputed Indian companies like Tata Group and Reliance, even they are no exception this behavior of Indian firms. A few have revamped their business processes and operations and are scaling to meet the standards set by foreign multinationals. But, they are worth counting on fingers, say like ICICI Bank. They are typically young start-up companies and are listed on NASDAQ or NYSE. A case in point is MakeMyTrip, a young Indian company consistently rated as one of the best places to work in India.

Now, I will elaborate on the characteristics of an Indian company…

Indian firms:

• ·        More importance given to a person’s personal life than professional life

In a collectivist society like India, people love to gossip, talk behind each other’s back. ‘Ah, you know she has an extra marital affair going on’ is more important for them than knowing how well performing and helpful the employee might be.

• ·        Timings are primary, work is secondary

You got to swipe in at 8:30 am in the morning and swipe out only after 6 pm in the evening. Those are the official timings and one has to abide by it, come what may. What happens in the midst of those 9.5 hours is not so important. Compare and contrast this with American firms where an employee’s presence for just 3 hours is also OK at times. But, get the work done, no other problems.

• ·        No flexibility on leaves

I cite the example of Tata group in this. Their leave system is just weird. There are only 12 casual leaves and 15 sick leaves that are allowed per year. Of course, one cannot apply for ‘sick leave’ in advance! In case of casual leaves, suppose there is a Sunday and Monday off. An employee decides to take 2 leaves on Saturday and Tuesday off and enjoy a long weekend. Going by the Tata’s ethics, it is not counted as 2 days off but 4 days off!! Lesser said, the better. Oh, and I forgot to mention, Saturdays are working days in Indian firms!!! God knows what they expect from their employees on the 4 hours of work on a Saturday.

• ·        Subjectivity everywhere

Guess this has again got more to do with the collectivist nature of society. A female boss finds a female subordinate smoking, drinking and coming to office in flashy hours. ‘Oh, she must not need a promotion ever, she is already rich enough!’ That is the kind of stuff that DOES happen.

• ·        Less respect for the individual

No matter what culture of the country says, life of an individual is not looked towards as something very important. He must say, ‘Sir’ to his boss or else face the problems of being in boss’ bad books!!

• ·        Efforts always on for a ‘dull workplace’

Everyone keeps a mask and tries to be serious in their work while in office. The fact of the matter is, it is pointless to expect employees to do some serious brain itching work for 9.5 hours a day in weekdays and for 5 hours on Saturday. Although employees may chitchat around, everyone is willing to show that we are serious. The boss will keep surfing internet for the entire day, but wants to keep a serious ‘computer face’ as if he is working on some complex spread sheets.

• ·        Hierarchy everywhere

The subordinate must say, ‘Sir’ every time or else he might face unforeseen problems in his life! The juniors get bored of saying the word, ‘Sir’ hundreds of times in a day. Compare and contrast with American firms, where the junior most 20 years old can address the senior 60 year old by his first name!

• ·        Pay less, pay less

The business communities are known for their stingy behaviour when it comes to paying their employees. American firms would simply pay more and save on attrition, employee insurance, training costs, etc. Indians firms love to lose their employees, waste time in interviews, searching for new candidates, etc. Most western firms pay higher and recruit less number of employees for more efficiency.

• ·        International travel!   :O  

Oh, it is such a high cost to send employees on an international assignment.  They would love to look at the cost, but not at the returns it could bring in return. Sending employees onsite to client locations in USA or other countries is discouraged at every possible junction!

• ·        Bureaucracy/decentralization

For any new proposal, say an outbound activity for employees, approvals are required from 10 different people. The appointments with them would take time, followed by everyone’s suggestion, budget issues and what was planned for say, 1 September would get executed in October last week. Red tape is so dear to hearts!!

• ·        Saturdays working

I suppose that speaks it all! Saturdays would have 5 hours of work where no one is in a mood to work. Virtually, nothing happens on a Saturday but employees have to come to office with restrained eyes and thinking about their friends working in American who are enjoying slumber.

• ·        Do not fire the non-performers

      Non-performers should not necessarily be fired. Instead, the people whom you hate, those who are in       bad books should be fired. Leave aside performance, that’s secondary. The senior and old people who are working from years or decades in a company should be promoted, leave aside the young performers. Respect to elderly, eh!!