The Hindu Business Line : Shattered dreams, uncertain future

Hyderabad, Jan. 7 The bylanes next to the tall imposing building of Satyam Computer Services in the heart of the city which usually buzz with activity wore a deserted look on Wednesday.

The Satyam saga robbed the small tea vendors, juice stall owners and a tiffin centres of their customers – mostly the IT company’s staff – as the revelations made by the company’s Chairman, Mr B. Ramalinga Raju, shocked the employees to such an extent that many refused to come out even for a break.

Among the shell-shocked employees was Rajeev, a youngster who had joined Satyam recently. He was yet to even get Internet access.

Rajeev was oblivious to the developments until he got a call from his father.

“My dad called me up and that is why I have come out,” he told Business Line. “After giving me details about the latest developments he gave me a blasting for having left a comfortable job in Wipro, where I worked for more than two years before joining Satyam.”

Family concern

A senior employee who has been with the company for 10 years was reluctant to comment on what he termed “management issues”. But he pledged to “continue to do my job as before. It is also my duty as a team leader to motivate my team to continue to perform as in the past.”

He added that while it was up to the shareholders and authorities to look at the developments and take corrective steps, “they must keep in mind that the families of 53,000 people will be affected”.

On the other hand, a young staffer who has just joined the company because of its reputation expressed concern about his future.

“It was with great difficulty that I got a job here. Being a native of Hyderabad and having heard so much about Satyam, it was a dream to work here. But now that dream has been shattered. And with the current economic recession, I don’t think getting a job elsewhere will be an easy task,” he added.

Mr Sashidhar, a mid-level employee, said: “Things are gloomy for most of us who have come from coastal Andhra districts to work in the company founded by a man from the region. We never expected that we were sitting on a house of cards. Work in the office came to a complete halt today. We are not sure whether we need to come to office tomorrow.”

Rude awakening

Another Satyam staffer, who was to report to office for the afternoon shift, was woken up by a colleague who gave him an update. “It was a rude shock to me. We don’t know what will happen to the company. But I’m sure I will be there till the current jobs are on,” he said.

Employees were seen in groups on various Satyam campuses discussing the developments and wondering about their future. Many wondered whether they would get their salaries at all. For them, the timing couldn’t have been worse.

“As it is, things are bad in the IT industry. But I’m sure that for every job that opens up in the IT industry there will be a minimum of 10 to 15 Satyam employees vying for the slot,” said a senior manager.

“Brand Satyam might be dust, but now it is Brand India that is at stake. Our hopes are pinned on the IT industry, Nasscom and the icons of the industry, like Mr N.R. Narayana Murthy. We expect them to do something for the 53,000 Satyam employees.”