Is It Fair to Terminate an HR Executive Over an Introductory Email? Let's Discuss This Real Incident

Hi,

This incident pertains to the year 2007. We had given our comments when this was circulated in that year. I am not clear as to why it is before this forum again.

Cyril

There was this incident of an office boy going to the corporate floor of a very large IT company to get some papers photostated. HR found someone in jeans and a t-shirt at the photocopying machine, taking out copies. HR just called out to him, "Oy, mere documents ki bhi copy kar de!"

The guy in jeans took the papers from the office boy, photostated them, and gave them all back to him. Just when he was leaving the corporate floor, one of the secretaries stopped the office boy and asked him if he knew who he had talked to in such a rude manner. The office boy started trembling when he was told that the guy in casuals was one of the founder directors of the company.

The office boy went up to him, repeated his apologies, and asked for forgiveness. The guy in casuals just smiled, patted the office boy on his shoulder, asked him not to worry, and gestured for him to carry on. This is a real-life incident, and the guy in casuals was none other than Arjun Malhotra of HCL.

Vasant Nair

Hi,

Here, I feel the HR Generalist should intervene and mediate to try to resolve this issue. Most importantly, the level needs to be skipped, and the newly hired guy should take it up with Ratan Tata directly, expecting intervention. If HR can't get a fair deal for himself, what protection can he provide to other employees?

The guy who got fired should take it up, and if he doesn't get a fair deal even after escalating the issue, he should seek refuge in industrial courts.

Life doesn't end with just one job ending. There are so many other career options. He can, in fact, get the media involved, highlight the autocratic behavior of MDs/Industrialists. He should go ahead and produce a movie on this and get the attention of the Ministry of Labour and Industry.

These are purely my thoughts, which are very rebellious. The guy knows his situation best and can decide the course of action. Dignity is more important than money, and one should fight for self-respect. We are all going to die one day, but we should die with respect. Once again, no offense meant to anyone; these are my thoughts at the very instance after reading this.

Dear,

We share the sentiments of all concerned on this sensitive issue. Even assuming it is a case study, it opens up the subject for a hot debate.

Rajan Associates
Chennai