The Hindu Business Line : HCL stretches workday by 30 minutes

HCL Technologies Ltd has increased its work hours by 30 minutes — from the existing eight-and-a-half hours a day (excluding a half-hour lunch break) to nine hours a day.

Mr D.K. Shrivastava, Vice-President, Corporate Human Resources, HCL Technologies, says increased work hours will aid employee training besides help the company follow the industry standard of a 45-hour working week.

Though HCL did not share figures on the number of employees being trained each year or the time spent per employee on training, it is understood that increased work hours will help an employee share work that would otherwise be done by an associate who was not training.

According to Ma Foi Management Consultants, though there is no formal announcement on increase in work hours in organisations, employees end up working at least 12-16 hours a day, especially when completing project deadlines.

Senior persons in the industry told Business Line that in most cases increase in work hours is not compensated by salary revisions or extra days of leave.

Mr Shrivastava, however, says employee compensation and benefits were revised in July this year taking into account the increase in work hours that would be implemented from October.

Employees of Infosys Technologies Ltd have been working for eight hours and 45 minutes a day with a 20-minute work break for the past 12 years, says Mr T.V. Mohandas Pai, Member of the Board and Director-Human Resources, Infosys Technologies. Cognizant Technology Solutions has also maintained its nine hours-a-day (including an hour-long lunch break) schedule.

Expertus Infotech Pvt Ltd has reduced work hours — from 48 hours to 40 hours a week. Mr Ashok Srinivasan, Vice President - Operations, Expertus Infotech, says, "We have realised the need for work-life balance and that is why reduced working days from six to five days a week (with employees putting in eight hours a day)."

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