HR is about the business, not just for the business: D K Patel, NTPC – ETHRWorld

As the job market grows, many companies are planning to increase their workforce and welcome new employees. A recent study found that white-collar hiring in India increased by 8 percent in the second quarter of 2023. There was also a 5 percent increase in employers hiring fresh graduates, indicating a positive trend for the future.NTPC, too, has strategies to hire and maintain a thriving work environment. The company currently employs 16,498 people, including 344 people in its Core HR Team, which means there is roughly one HR person per 48 employees. In an interview with ETHRWorld, D K Patel, Director – HR, NTPC, discussed the HR strategies that the company has adopted, its hiring practices, and the future of the workplace.NTPC aims to have the right induction strategy and has adjusted its approach to align with the changing business realities. The company’s manpower planning and recruitment efforts focus on attracting the right talent, whether internal or external, through effective recruitment channels and the creation of an Internal Talent Marketplace. The recruitment process has been shortened to meet business needs by leveraging technology.To strengthen the implementation of HR policies, NTPC has also focused on Team Leaders who play a crucial role in translating great people practices into positive employee experiences. Customized interventions have been rolled out for People Managers. Patel believes that “HR is about the business, not just for the business.” HR should not only be a Strategic Business Partner but also be involved in the strategy formulation for the company’s business approach. NTPC’s low executive attrition rate in the last five years demonstrates the success of its employer brand. The HR policies have been comprehensively reviewed and revamped based on organizational strategy and stakeholder feedback, adopting an “HR from the Outside In” approach. The HR strategies aim to place the right person in the right role at the right time. NTPC is increasingly recruiting manpower in new and emerging areas and has shifted to holding Recruitment Drives throughout the year to reduce lead time. The company also leverages technology in its recruitment process, including virtual interviews. NTPC believes in developing its workforce and has made continuous efforts to enhance its training and development framework. The organization has implemented various initiatives to promote diversity and inclusion, with women making up 7.4 percent of the total staff. NTPC has also implemented HR tech in various aspects of its HR delivery, including competency-based manpower planning systems and a Contractors’ Labour Information Management System. Immersive technologies like simulators and VR training are used for learning. NTPC focuses on building a leadership pipeline through career development, succession planning, and effective leadership development. The company has embraced blended learning, including e-learning and immersive technologies, to upskill its workforce. Specialized courses and sponsorships for executives are also provided. The hiring plans include recruiting fresh graduate engineers as Engineering Executive Trainees and hiring experienced manpower in various areas. NTPC strives to hire the right candidates to meet its business growth requirements. On average, the company makes fresh hirings every year to balance attrition and business growth.Overall, NTPC’s HR strategies focus on aligning with the changing business realities, attracting the right talent, and promoting a culture of learning, diversity, and inclusion. HR tech plays a significant role in supporting these strategies, enabling efficient HR delivery and aligning with the business requirements and employee expectations.

Author: OpenAI