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Moumita Bakshi Chatterjee

Measures ranging from realignment of shift timings to people-oriented initiatives such as Diwali fests complete with firework displays have been planned, to ensure that business continues during the festivities.

New Delhi , Oct. 31

IT will be work as usual for many Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) employees on Tuesday when a large part of the country celebrates Diwali.

BPO companies have lined-up measures ranging from realignment of shift timings to people-oriented initiatives such as Diwali fests complete with firework displays, to ensure that business continues during the festivities.

"We have realigned our timings to allow employees to go back early. Also, advance planning for critical functions such as online interactions has been done. We will be finishing the shifts by late afternoon to allow employees to be with their families in the evening," said Mr Rohit Arora, Chairman of eMR Technology Ventures.

Exëvo, a Knowledge Process Outsourcing firm, has offered a deal to its employees — in case they come in on Tuesday, they would get two compensatory offs.

"While the day projects for countries like South Korea and New Zealand will run as usual, we plan to reduce the shift timing for the UK projects, so that employees can leave early," said Mr Alok Tayal, Vice-President of Exëvo.

Its US-oriented operations would require of 10-12 per cent employees, although it claims that 30 per cent of staff has already opted to come to office on Diwali day.

"We are also creating a festive environment for people at the workplace," he said. Some other BPO companies have gone a step ahead by offering monetary incentives to those who show up for work.

Another company, Hero ITES has organised festive dinner and other entertainment programmes. Mr Nilesh Kothari of the company said, "As much as 40-50 per cent of our employees are migrants from outside the National Capital Region. They may prefer to celebrate the festival with their friends in office."

A spokesperson for GENPACT (erstwhile Gecis) said that their business would run as per the "process calendar" of countries that the project belongs to, but did not give details.

Mr Sam Chopra, President of Call Centre Association of India, pointed out that while most of the centres handling outbound calls may remain closed those handling inbound traffic would be working.

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It's business as usual for BPOs on Diwali day — Shift timings reworked, on-campus festivities lined up

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