Is a Strict Policy Environment Causing Employee Frustration in IT Companies?

Hello,

My name is Sonal. I am working in an IT company as an HR Executive where we work on software development (ASP.Net, PHP) and Web Designing.

Here, the policies are very strict, and the employees are not happy with the management. For example, we have fixed timing from 9.30 am to 6.30 pm. If a person is late, there is a late mark for that. If there are 3 late marks, half a day is cut. Even if the employee comes late and completes his 9 hours, the company still marks him as late. The total working hours are 9 hours per day, and Saturday is a working day. Employees get frustrated when their salary is deducted because of late marks, even after completing 9 hours.

There is no facility for sending emails outside the company; we can only use it for internal purposes. If anybody's leave balance is insufficient, and they take leave, the management asks for the reason. Employees feel that their privacy is invaded.

Can anybody help me understand if this type of environment is suitable for an IT company? I have noticed that many senior persons are leaving because of this issue.

I am waiting for your replies at [mahajansonal@gmail.com](mailto:mahajansonal@gmail.com).

Regards,

Sonal

If the policies are made, they are meant to be followed. What's the harm in following them? Regarding not being able to send emails to external people, is the reason that IT companies always run short of storage space on the server? These chain emails and forwarded emails have really messed up the servers, increasing huge loads every day. Thus, many companies are considering stopping the use of email IDs for personal use and keeping them exclusively for official use.

It's an IT company where every second counts. Sometimes, lots of projects are ruined with just a 0.001% inaccuracy. Discipline is a must within the company, but I know that too much of everything is bad and harmful.

Legally, the employer may ask its employees for the reasons for taking any kind of leave. The IT industry is still booming today but also suffering from attrition.

With best regards, Umesh (welcomeumesh@yahoo.com)

Same was the problem in our company too. But we then introduced point system where if some one is late his salary is not deducted but negative points are given.

Here you go:

We don't deduct salary on late comings and have point based system to mark late comings:

1. Negative points will be awarded, if you report late at work. These points will be calculated quarterly (At the end of March, June, September and December).

The points rule applies as explained below:

a. 9.31 am to 9.40 am: 2 points

b. 9.41 am to 9.50 am: 3 points

c. 9.51 am to 10.00 am: 4 points

d. 10.01 am to 10.10 am: 7 points

e. 10.11 am to 10.20 am: 10 points

f. 10.21 am to 10.30 am: 13 points

2. After 8 late reporting in a calendar month irrespective of the points, an employee is taken off from the points system for the rest of the month and also the coming next month. 4 late reporting (after 9.30 am) thereon will be marked as 1 day leave.

3. As and when your quarterly negative points go above 45, you will automatically be removed from points system and moved to 4 late-1 leave system for the remaining duration of the quarter.

Hi Sonal,

Here are my thoughts on the subject.

In today's competitive environment, where more and more companies are working towards providing a more flexible and employee-friendly work environment (flexi work hours, work out of home, etc.), your company seems to have a very 1940's attitude towards employee entry and exit timings, especially in the IT industry.

What should be important is that the employee is given some buffer time in case he/she is running late (this happens with most of us!). Possibly after 3 late comings a month, an employee can be marked absent for half a day, and pay can be cut accordingly. Cutting a day's salary for every late coming is an extremely harsh step. This should be the last resort!

As for not sending emails to outside users, just simply respect the policy or alternately set up one or two machines which will allow employees access to personal mails...