The HR Association of the Xavier University organised a national level HR submit, ‘Kshitij 2017, at the Xavier School of Human Resource Management here on Friday.
The event illuminated the need to address the growing phenomenon of gig economy, accompanied by the demands and challenges faced while working with a contingent workforce.
HR personalities like Maharana Ray of the Bajaj Auto, AnkitaPoddar of the Amazon and Swati Yadav of HFCl addressed the seminal moderated Xavier School’s Prof Sasmit Patra. School Dean Prof Snigdha Pattnaik delivered the welcome address.
Yadav introduced the concept of gig economy by taking specific examples of Uber and AirBnB. Stressing on transformational and evolutionary HR, she stressed on how professions which deal with the human touch in gig economy namely educators, innovators and researchers play a key role and their participation in the economy might increase by 20,000 times.
Poddar focused on the ‘dark side of the gig economy’. Her major area of concern was lack of focus on the workers’ part due to multiple commitments, which might lead to loss in their mind space to bolster innovation. She also emphasised how the worker’s “Right to Fail” might be taken away by organisations.
Ray said the “gig” concept has existed in the Indian workforce for over 50 years.
The second leg of the event was the award presentation of a pan-India Article Writing Competition on the same theme, which saw participation from some of India’s highly illustrious b-schools, including IIM Trichy, SCMHRD and MDI.
Abhishek Singh of the IIM Trichy was felicitated with the runner’s up certificate, while the winner’s award was presented to Swapnila Moharana and Manvendra Singh of the Xavier School.
Prof Mousumi Padhi proposed a vote of thanks.