Pushing the Boundaries of Workplace Possibilities

Everywhere we look, the world around us has changed, and this is equally true of society and industry. Needless to say, this has also caused to revisit and reimagine the nature of work and the workplace itself.

Traditional norms have melted away, and the emergence of a younger workforce with a raft of unique needs has seen remote offices come of age, as has the evolution of our workspaces from being a 'work hub' into a 'social hub'.

As we seek to fully understand the importance and role of the office, we must also understand the gilt-edged opportunity these changes have presented to us, one that is perhaps a once-in-a-generation one. And as it often is with all things in life, a select clutch of leaders and organisations have come to the fore and shown the way for us all, creating physical and digital work environments that are flexible and collaborative, and delivering the elusive, but much in demand, work-life balance. It is an unenviable task to create this New Possible sought by many, but those that count among the Most Preferred Workplaces 2022 epitomise a can-do spirit that has seen this vision be realised.

Through myriad session formats, such as fireside chats, keynote addresses, and panel discussions, a cross-section of industry experts put forth their perspectives on how to move the needle forward. Sharing a CEOs perspective on how to shape workplace culture, Kaushik Khona, CEO, Go Airlines (India), stated, "This pandemic really taught us something better. We were always service oriented, so I would say this was an opportunity for our team to develop multi-faceted skills. They not only worked towards their defined job responsibilities, but they took initiative proactively as well. This gives a sense of satisfaction, and taught us to enjoy the moment. Having our employees focus on this paid off."

A bevy of brands were felicitated in a gala ceremony by the ageless superstar Zeenat Aman, and the multi-talented actor and philanthropist Vivek Oberoi. Sharing a few words on the occasion, Zeenat Aman said, "It's so necessary to have a great working environment, I know that it's so important to so many of us, and even in our line of work. To do well, we have to have a great place to work in, so an idea like this is the need of the hour."

Offering his thoughts, Vivek Oberoi said, "The innovative aspect of this award is the need of the hour, not just from an ethical perspective, but also from an HR perspective if you want to attract the best talent. Creating that solid bedrock where people can flourish and optimise their performance is essential, and a collaborative exercise between organisations and their personnel."

Organisations that grabbed the spotlight included:

AB InBev GCC, Adobe, Aithent Technologies Private Limited., Coforge, Cyble, Danfoss Industries Private Limited, DCM Shriram Limited, DHL Express India Private Limited, Diageo India, EaseMyTrip ESAB India Limited, EY Global Delivery Services, Gharda Chemicals Limited, Go Airlines (India) Ltd., H.K.Designs (India), HDFC ERGO General Insurance Company Limited, Hikal Limited, Infra.Market, JMS Mining Private Limited, Kirtilal Kalidas Jewellers, Maanaveeya Development & Finance Private Limited., Malabar Group, MD India Health Insurance TPA Private Limited, Medica Super-specialty Hospital, Neerja Modi School, Nexus Malls, NTPC Limited, ORRA Fine Jewellery Private Limited, Pearl Global Industries Limited, Poonawalla Fincorp, Quinte Financial Technologies Private Limited, Serum Institute of India, Syngene International Limited, Syngenta India, Tanla Platforms Limited, Tata Consultancy Services, Tavant, Tech Mahindra, Vijaya Diagnostic Centre Limited, Yotta Infrastructure, Zaggle Prepaid Ocean Services Private Limited, Zee Entertainment Enterprises, Zetwerk Manufacturing, and Zydus Lifesciences Limited

Speaking at the event, Rajesh Khubchandani, Co-Founder and CEO, Team Marksmen, said, "The leaders and visionaries that count among the rank of the Most Preferred Workplace 2022 have holistically reoriented the business landscape to create delightful employee experiences that are inspiring and the gold standard for excellence. We applaud these organisations for their accomplishments and look forward to witnessing them continue to shake up the traditional establishment and way of doing things."

By marrying the ideas of old with those that hold the promise of a better tomorrow, the Most Preferred Workplaces are creating an unmatched industry ecosystem and a brighter future that benefits all.