Can signing a good conduct undertaking be a guarantee of good conduct by employees? Maruti Suzuki's strike at Manesar plant has reached a flash-point where both the management and workers seem to be unrelenting on the issue of the 'good conduct bond'. The management is adamant that the workers have to sign the bond and the workers refuse to do so.
The problems at Manesar plant came to surface few months back when workers at Manesar plant went on strike demanding a separate union then the existing one at the Gurgaon plant, which they alleged to be a management's union. the strike which lasted 13 days resulted in a huge loss for the company. Presently too the losses are accumulating. The Swift(diesel) bookings have been reportedly stopped by the dealers as the existing booking's delivery date shall stretch up to April 2012. And with car sales dipping, the company can ill-afford the small sliver-lining in the form of demand for diesel cars.
Anyways, coming-back to the core bone of contention ‘the good-conduct bond’- In the first place why should a company require its people to behave in a certain way only after they sign a good conduct bond? It is almost like asking your spouse to sign a bond that she would smile every time she opens the door for you when you return from your work? Shouldn’t that happiness reflect on its own? And if that joy of companionship is not there can someone be forced to smile? In other words that willingness on the part of employees to exhibit good conduct must be an automatic outcome of what goes on in the company rather than a forced one.
Second what is a company’s intention in insisting its employees to sign such a bond? Does it make the company look like focused on a policy of ‘hire and fire’? I think it does.
And finally, what shall the company do if a worker misbehaves after signing the good-conduct bond? Will it sue or sack or simply pest? Is it a tool to effect punishment or really a way to ensure good behaviour?
Respect, commitment, discipline can never be demanded; one can only illicit them voluntarily from others. This voluntarism is at the heart of engagement. The company who has a celebrated HR head is losing its touch on the pulse of people and slowly may be the people as well. Will it result in them also losing the people who buy their cars (customers) – I think they have already started to…
2 comments:
I Totally Agree With Your Views Sir...
It is said that, "If You Give Respect, Then U Will Get Respect"...
No One Can Force An Employee To Be Engaged or To Be Creative. Engagement comes from within. I don't understand why Maruti is committing such blunder...
Nice Article Sir...
Thanks Ketan.
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