On this episode of The Shape of work podcast, our guest is Gayathri Gudipati, Human Resources Manager at Roundsqr.

With over 13 years of experience working in the HR fraternity, Gayathri has plenty of expertise to share in this conversation. We discuss with Gayathri:

• How to measure the productivity of remote workers
• The need for HR innovation
• What is and how to create a great candidate experience
• How Diversity and Inclusion matter
• Employee engagement strategies that actually work

Episode Highlights

Ways of measuring the productivity of remote workers

While speaking on measuring employees' productivity, Gayathri feels that it is not right to assess the performance of a candidate after a year. Monthly touchpoints, quarterly analysis, and other modern measuring methods should be incorporated, especially in remote working situations when an organization has no standard goals.

HR Innovation and its need

While answering the question related to HR innovation and its need, Gayathri explains that in the 2010s, HR technologies were more focused on automating processes and people management. However, now, newer technologies like AI platforms are used for management, recruiting, and several other ways for improving productivity instead of just improving the functionality of an organization. She also explains the need for HR innovation in verifying the backgrounds of the candidates as HR teams are still relying on third parties to gather information about their past careers.

How to create a great experience for candidates?

While answering the question associated with turning employee experience into a positive thing for the organization or employer branding, Gayathri feels that the companies should do root-cause analysis for the bad things written about them on platforms like Glassdoor and LinkedIn. If the company policy or recruitment process is at fault, the employer should own up and acknowledge the mistake, she admits.

How Diversity and Inclusion matter in HR?

While addressing the question of how to include diversity and inclusion in an organization, Gayathri says that the company should develop a culture where there is mutual respect for each other. The company's top management, along with the HR team, should encourage executives to include these values in the organization. She feels that organizations should start respecting diversity while making the holiday calendar and including things like floating holidays to accommodate everyone. According to her, small things like addressing basic needs like leaves to pregnant employees and providing prayer rooms to members during their holy month are also important. Localizing some policies to make the employees feel included is a must as per her thoughts.

Effective Employee Engagement Strategies

Choosing the right platform for a particular communication policy, how frequently you want to engage with your employees, what will be the agenda of the communication, and recognizing the effort of hard-working employees is important, as per Gayathri. The employers must recognize the parameters of recognition and provide a competitive salary structure to provide a good environment for all the employees. According to her, giving the right learning path to employees is also an essential part of effective employment strategy.

Follow Gayathri on LinkedIn

Produced by: Priya Bhatt
Podcast host: Nikita Chowdhary