Is Joining as an HR Executive in a Multiplex a Good Career Move in India? Seeking Advice on Statutory Compliances

Hello,

Whenever I had a problem in my life, I had approached this site and got the best solution for the problem.

Once again, I am at a crossroads and hoping you all will help me out.

I completed my MBA in Human Resources last year. After that, I joined an environmental consultant and later left the job to work in a telecom company on a contract basis, accumulating a total of over 1 year of experience.

Now, at the end of this month, my contract has ended, and I am currently unemployed.

Yesterday, I received an offer for an interview from a prominent multiplex company that operates multiplexes all over India. The offer is for an HR Executive position. The job responsibilities include handling statutory compliances in addition to Recruitment, Selection, Grievance Handling, and managing HR policies.

I want to know if it is worth joining as an HR Executive in a multiplex. Is there a promising future for working as an HR Executive in multiplexes in India?

What are statutory compliances? I have never handled them before.

Should I accept this job if selected?

I am eagerly waiting for your suggestions as I need to provide an answer.

Please guide me.

Regards,

dsv

Yesterday, I received an offer for an interview from a prominent multiplex company that operates multiple multiplexes all over India. The offer was for the position of HR Executive. The job responsibilities include handling statutory compliances in addition to recruitment, selection, grievance handling, and HR policy management.

As you are already aware, the multiplex is a multi-state operation. Is this position intended for a state or national level? Regardless, consider taking up the opportunity due to the valuable experience you can gain in the entertainment industry.

I am curious if it is worthwhile to join as an HR Executive in a multiplex.

In the USA, there are 120 multiplex screens per 1 million people, while in India, there are only 12 multiplex screens per 1 million people. Hence, the growth potential in the industry is significant. It seems like a safe bet for the next 3 to 5 years. Take advantage of such an experience.

Is there a promising future for working as an HR Executive in multiplexes in India?

The entertainment industry is constantly evolving due to technological advancements. However, the presence of multiplexes in the Indian market appears to be stable. It seems like a safe bet for the next 3 to 5 years, but beyond that, it becomes uncertain.

What are statutory compliances, and how should they be handled if I have never dealt with them before?

Statutory compliances refer to regulations set by the state and the entertainment industry for the welfare of workers. These regulations cover areas such as wages, casual employment, safety standards, compensation, shift work, and more. HR professionals must ensure compliance with all these regulations.

If selected, should I accept this job opportunity?

Yes, undoubtedly.

Regards,

LEO LINGHAM

Hi,

Working with multiplexes involves providing HR services to the industry that serves the general public. So, the option is not bad. Please check the timings if you are time-conscious, and consider other factors related to timing. In my experience, multiplex offices typically start late in the morning and work late into the evening.

Legal compliance starts with adherence to the following acts:

1. Payment of Wages Act (to ensure proper and timely payment, and permissible deductions from salaries).
2. Minimum Wages Act (to ensure payment of minimum wages as declared by the state government for various employment categories).
3. Employees' Provident Fund & Miscellaneous Provisions Act (a Social Security Act related to deductions and deposit contributions for the benefit of workers, both employees, and employers, with the concerned Regional PF Commissioner for future benefits).
4. Employees State Insurance Act (a Social Security Act providing medical benefits to members and their dependent family members, including sickness, medical, maternity, death, and disablement benefits).
5. Workmen's Compensation Act (applies if the ESI Act is not applicable, providing compensation in case of accidents or injuries, depending on the severity of the injury or disablement).
6. Payment of Bonus Act (rewards performance contributing to company growth and depends on the company's growth).
7. Payment of Gratuity Act (provides retirement benefits in the form of a lump sum cash amount after a minimum of 5 years of service under a single employer).
8. Industrial Disputes Act (provides grievance handling procedures and dispute settlement related to service terms and conditions between employers and employees).
9. Maternity Benefit Act (provides maternity benefits to female employees if the ESI Act is not applicable or the employee is not covered by the ESI scheme).

I hope you are now well-informed about legal compliances under the various applicable acts.

My suggestion is to have a respective job rather than sitting idle. Don't be disheartened if you do not succeed; many openings are emerging in India and demand for HR professionals is increasing everywhere.

All the best.

Regards,

Anil Anand

Statutory Compliance means to ensure that your organization fulfills obligations under every applicable law. It is also true that it is difficult to fulfill compliance with each applicable law in this country. Since you are being invited to join as an HR Exec, I suppose your worry will be limited to all labor, industrial, and establishment laws.

It may be difficult to ensure 100% compliance, it is NOT impossible. The extent to which you succeed will depend upon your knowledge, the culture of the organization/management, and your ability to educate (if necessary), convince, and persuade your employers to support in ensuring statutory compliance.

If you are personally legally trained or inclined and have the zest to deal with the enforcement agencies, you may take up the job.

It is a thankless job (and most are so anyway!). It is not a career opportunity, so even if you accept it, do not plan to stay in this job for too long a time. Without knowing your personality, strengths, and weaknesses, I venture that there is more challenge in collective bargaining, negotiations, human up-gradation, and the like opportunities.

Hope this will NOT confuse. It is intended to help!

Best of Luck,

Samvedan

September 30, 2005

Hi,

Apart from the comments from my colleagues who have provided valuable information, especially from Leo, I would say one thing: Multiplexes are a sunrise industry and would definitely help enrich your experience, especially since it falls under the service industry.

Best of luck!

Cheers,
Rajat

Hi,

It is nice to see a lot of our fraternity members giving valid suggestions to you. I feel you should concentrate on the job aspect and for the time being forget about the lifespan of multiplexes in India. Your job profile seems to involve handling statutory regulations. Many view this as a routine and mundane job, but nevertheless, it involves a lot of activities. Apart from maintenance of forms, you might also need to maintain rapport with government officials and handle inspections in the workplace.

There are many vacancies available for personnel handling statutory regulations in consultants and BPOs, where many organizations outsource these activities to them. So, your experience, if you join here, is not wasted. I feel it would be better for you to take this opportunity and then start looking ahead.

Regards, R. Harsha Vardhanan

Hi,

I saw your email. I think the first step you should take is to remove the mental block of working with a firm that is building multiplexes. Why does it matter?

Secondly, the profile being offered to you is very good in terms of learning! This is where you will build up your experience.

You are handling the HR part as well as the statutory part. This is usually a dream profile (at least personally, I think so). My suggestion is to take up the job. You have also received the opinions of many other learned seniors like Mr. Leo.

I am sure that you will not regret your decision. Don't worry about the statutory payment part. You will learn it automatically! If you have the aptitude, nothing can stop you. Statutory payments refer to the Provident Fund, ESI, Professional tax, etc.

I am sure that with hands-on experience like this, you will go a very long way in this field. Usually, you will get a profile like the normal recruitment type: only screening, preliminary interview, etc., and you will be stuck there. But look at the profile that you have been offered (grievance handling, etc.)—this is excellent. Do not let go of this opportunity!

All the very best.

Regards,

Sadashiv 😊