The Hindu Business Line : Attrition control

The public debate on some of the IT/ITES companies' newly started practice of restraining their employees from joining hands with their competitors is nothing new, as pointed out in "Attrition controls should not violate individual's freedom of choice" (Business Line, June 10). This agreement not to compete has been in practice in different forms for quite some time now and its legal validity would depend on reasonableness and the ability of the companies to establish the competitive edge they suffered because of the breach of the agreement terms.

Be that as it may, it is safe to say that real retention happens when the employees are motivated by the inherent challenge in the assignment itself.

Of course if the churning employees do violate any of the laws governing intellectual properties or business secrets, the existing laws should take care of them. Free markets, for jobs or otherwise, also need to follow certain code of conduct and responsibility both by employers and employees without which they will suffer.

N. K. Raveendran

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It has rightly been pointed out that "Attrition controls should not violate individual's freedom of choice" (Business Line, June 10).

The practice of forcing employees to sign non-compete agreements is a retrograde step. It reminds one of previous practice of getting bonds from employees to serve an institution for a specified period.

The Supreme Court has, in certain cases, come to the rescue of employees saying that bond does not mean bonded labour.

The solution should be found in increasing the supply of skilled personnel, for which the urgent requirement is to grow more talents.

A. Jacob Sahayam

Thiruvananthapuram

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Attrition control