Wednesday, September 17, 2008

IBM, HP, INFOSYS, WIPRO, TCS, HCL, Satyam Firing's

The internet is abuzz with rumours of various IT Companies such as INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES(IBM), HEWLETT PACKARD(HP, INFOSYS, WIPRO, TCS, HCL.

Search terms such as
INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES FIRING

IBM FIRING

HEWLETT PACKARD FIRING

HP FIRING

INOFSYS FIRING

WIPRO FIRING

TCS FIRING

HCL FIRING






Common blame for these IT FIRINGS seems to be pointing at the US Economy and a lowering consumer confidence. However, if one looks further into the firings at the IT Giants, one notices a common thread - India.

It seems consumer frustration with lack lustre Offshore IT Support is causing a shuffle in India's once booming IT Sector. I know for a fact, American Express recently axed their India Call centre. I have had nothing but problems with the off shore, particularly in India call centre's. Router companies are known for their cheap outsourcing. The most frustrating phrase I hear is "OK, so if I understand you correctly sir, you cannot..." Usually followed by something completely different than your actual problem.





Here is a Story from a Publication in India where they talk about the recent IT FIRING's

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In February, information technology giants Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), IBM, and portal Yahoo flashed pink slips to hundreds of employees on the basis of “poor” performance.

Others such as Patni Computers followed suit. Banks, financial services and insurance firms, or the so-called BFSI players, have been discretely deleting non-performers.

Surabhi Mathur Gandhi, general manager, permanent staffing at HR firm TeamLease Services, says some companies have shipped out as much as 8-10% of their staff on the basis of sub-par performance in the last couple of months.

'Job opportunities on upswing in infrastructure sector'

Companies in the IT and BFSI space, which recruit 6,000-25,000 people every year, are ‘rationalising’ workforce.

However, the real reason, say HR experts, is cost-cutting aimed at tiding over business slowdown.

The rationalisation continues, though not with the same intensity. The problem compounds for those sacked because another job has been hard to come by.

Small industries hit by production slump, job generation dips





Take Samarth Rajan (name changed), for instance. The 28-year-old from Bangalore told DNA Money that after working for five years in an IT firm as a senior programmer, he was asked to leave mid-May.

Since then, he has been flitting across the city seeking an opportunity. “Jobs are difficult to come by in this market and for someone who has got a pink slip, the scene is worse,” sighs the computer engineer.

He says the lack of a good reference and his relieving letter (which is not really overflowing with praise) are creating barriers in his search for a new job. Rajan says if nothing comes by in the next couple of days, he may take up higher studies (such as pursue a MBA or MCA degree).

“Some of my ex-colleagues are also finding it tough to get jobs. We have even applied to BPOs and are waiting to hear from them.”

Satish Mhatre (name changed) is also sailing in the same boat. After working in a Mumbai-based insurance firm as a sales executive for the last three years, Mhatre says he was asked to leave in late June on account of poor performance.

Since then, he explains, he has been formatting his resume and approaching every firm on his way, be it in the area of insurance, sales, event management, call centres, etc.

“Though I was told that firing people on account of low performance is a normal exercise, I am sure another chance would have been given, if not for the slowdown,” says Mhatre.

More India business stories

Somewhat luckier is software engineer Kapil Bhat. Ejected by another top IT company three-and-a-half months ago, the Bangalore resident has nevertheless managed to get hold of an offer in a call centre with a monthly pay of Rs 30,000 or half his previous salary.

“I have no choice but to accept whatever comes my way,” he says.

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