Telecom players go for staff reskilling to find them different jobs
, ET Bureau|
Updated: Apr 05, 2017, 01.29 AM IST
MUMBAI: As the telecom sector goes through its largest consolidation phase in history, companies are trying to soften the blow on the thousands who may face the axe by reskilling emplopyees and roping in outplacement firms to find them different jobs.
Company officials and hiring experts say firms have been hired to conduct mapping of employees across levels so that training them in a new role becomes swifter while some telcos are creating new roles for internal transfers.
Right Management, a top outplacement firm, was contacted by two of the top telecom players in the last six months. The mandate given was to place their workforces elsewhere.
“A consolidation is taking place-...but business models are not changing. So there is no space to absorb the flab,” said Prashant Pandey, country manager of Right Management, a subsidiary of Manpower Group. “Telecom players will have to show they are engaging with employees asked to leave. Otherwise the impact on those who remain with the company can damage work culture.”
The HR head of an operator that is going through consolidation said the company is trying to reskill its marketing sections into newer roles, with internal transfers also on the agenda.
A senior telecom analyst of one of big four consulting firms said some of the telecom firms have started insourcing contract work for which they need more employees.
They are training some of those who may have been retrenched otherwise to work in these areas that look at content development, digital business units.
“Employees have been coached and reskilled to meet the challenges and opportunities. Moreover as they move up the ladder, the gravity of domain specific skills tend to diminish and administrative and leadership skills play the differentiating factor,” said Sandeep Gandhi, Chief Human Resource Officer, Aircel.
The entry of Reliance Jio has triggered a wave of consolidation in the industry with Vodafone India and Idea Cellular announcing a merger, while Reliance Communications, Aircel and MTS are also combining their businesses.
Company officials and hiring experts say firms have been hired to conduct mapping of employees across levels so that training them in a new role becomes swifter while some telcos are creating new roles for internal transfers.
Right Management, a top outplacement firm, was contacted by two of the top telecom players in the last six months. The mandate given was to place their workforces elsewhere.
“A consolidation is taking place-...but business models are not changing. So there is no space to absorb the flab,” said Prashant Pandey, country manager of Right Management, a subsidiary of Manpower Group. “Telecom players will have to show they are engaging with employees asked to leave. Otherwise the impact on those who remain with the company can damage work culture.”
The HR head of an operator that is going through consolidation said the company is trying to reskill its marketing sections into newer roles, with internal transfers also on the agenda.
A senior telecom analyst of one of big four consulting firms said some of the telecom firms have started insourcing contract work for which they need more employees.
They are training some of those who may have been retrenched otherwise to work in these areas that look at content development, digital business units.
“Employees have been coached and reskilled to meet the challenges and opportunities. Moreover as they move up the ladder, the gravity of domain specific skills tend to diminish and administrative and leadership skills play the differentiating factor,” said Sandeep Gandhi, Chief Human Resource Officer, Aircel.
The entry of Reliance Jio has triggered a wave of consolidation in the industry with Vodafone India and Idea Cellular announcing a merger, while Reliance Communications, Aircel and MTS are also combining their businesses.