[Assam] IBM: a MNC turned mental/psychological torture camp and Human Right violation

Thu Jan 3 20:48:50 PST 2008

Bikash-da,

If any companys work culture is painful people would leave -- it is no longer slavery or indentured labor or bonded labor (as in many parts of India still).

Can you name any MNC which you think is dong ethical work? Just to see what you think about private business.

Umesh

Ritutapan Borah <ritutapanborah at gmail.com> wrote: Hello Dr. Das,

You are right; definitely your mail was of disturbing in nature.

I worked for IBM for 2 long years as S/W engineer. And I can tell you from
my experience that, the details you are giving are far ... far from reality.

Compared to other IT companies (especially Indian MNCs); IBM is among the
most open-cultured, flexible organization with due respect to work-life
balance and flexible time.

I fear, your study (?) was quite flawed -- in the sense that -- you are not
mentioning about any other IT companies. Please do a *comparative study* in
your free time. You should consult someone who has seen in and out of at
least 2-3 IT companies in India and also IBM (If I am not wrong, you deal
more with Govt. employees in HAL etc more than IT people). I can bet, you
may have to repent for sending this mail with not-so-comprehensive
conclusions.

Besides major part of your analysis is more to do with PG owners in
Bangalore, not any employer.

The bottomline (on somewhat lighter note) I would like to put here is that
-- IT professional's life in India is not heaven but mostly like hell. But,
if you draw a line from hell to heaven  -- IBM should be placed at a point
towards the heaven only compared to most of other counterparts.

On 1/4/08, DR BIKASH KUMAR DAS  wrote:
>
> Dear friends,
>
> This mail of mine might be disturbing in nature  We have lot of big boss
> here and would love to inform the interior base scene too to bring up well
> being of their employees.
>
> I come across various categories of people from society as my patient for
> consultations and treatment and during this humankind service I found the
> following as a result of observation.
>
> IBM is the oldest brand name in computer segment and thus turning into a
> mega MNC worldwide. But day by day it is found to be the worst nightmare to
> Indian Mental health, Psychology and cause of dark future of Indian youth.
> The reason:-
>
> On routine it is found to attract rural young stars who dream a good well
> paid job and life ahead with the brand name IBM. So they do come and join as
> trainee. But the inside view of so pathetic for Indian new generation that
> none could ever imagine. Say Rupalee,Kavita,Pubalee,Babrubahan (Name
> changed) from another end of Indian village(like from Assam etc) did joined
> as trainee either at Airport Rd, Hebbal flyover Jn,Banerghatta Rd etc
> etc.They got accommodations in PG at various places. The PG means 2
> bedroom flats being converted into 6-7 beds tiny bunkers with no table or
> chair inside other than a bed ONLY. The small kitchen is also being made one
> cabin. The rent varies from Rs.5500 per month with only veg food and most
> of the time due to lack of times, all the occupants do dine out or in the
> office. So the PG owner breathes well. From 6 PG they get Rs. 31,800.00 Pm
> and don't pay any income tax or service tax. Salary ranges from 16000-20000
> pm with TDS.Majority do
> study their Engineering with big loan and the recovery amount stands at 6,
> 600.00 pm.Amount at hand if salary is Rs.18000-6,600-5500= 5,900 to live
> in Bangalore and eat good food and other expenditures. Plus the TDS amount.
> (Knowing all these I fear that I am no more medical professional to talk for
> humanity or good diet to them).
>
> Now look at the very important Psychic effects to the Indian new
> generation youth:- (I did studied highly on IBM and so placing these data
> and I am at no cost to disclose the true identity other than to Govt
> bodies).IBM got GYM trainers who themselves are not well trained or
> experienced with medical sciences. They are someone like Michael Jackson or
> John Abraham .Some employee was asked to run on the automatic treadmill or
> other heavy exercise to keep fit. There was injury and the Instructor kept
> asking to continue exercise so that the pain will go. Human anatomy or
> capability was ignored. There was severe Bi-Lateral ligament tear in the
> knee where immediate rest, Hospitalization and surgical interventions needed
> under an orthopaedic. But the so called senior Indian Manager's told them
> that they will loose job if got admitted to hospital or take rest at home
> under medical advise and loose salary. Due to such scary comments definitely
> these peoples psychology never allow
> to loose the job keeping view of their parent's burden. They continued to
> work with limping stage. At workplace the so called manager did gave them
> more job and kept asking to do more. Average they do work for 10-16 hours.
> No holidays for newly joined ones, they work same way till Saturday.
> Sometimes do call on Sundays too in guise of part of training.
>
> My one relative from Assam,a too young boy, did join IBM few years back
> after his BE and he cried and cried till he left the job. He was tortured
> mentally such way that he failed to sleep for an hour also. The manager used
> to call him over mobile all the time(even at midnight 2400 hrs) as like POW
> (Prisoner of War).He was even unable to visit my home-1 km away from his
> office and room! Now-
>
> They are not allowed to use their personal emails from office. All
> strictly prohibited to communicate with rest of the world or to family
> members, friends etc. And the company email id usage is also restricted to
> company use only. All have been barred by the managers who in turn keep
> walking near them for any usage the manager says- "whole future is there to
> email or use internet. Now you work hard day and night and concentrate on
> company profit." Leave are far cry!
>
> The food provided is not at all good. All American (double in cost
> comparing to existing market price) style high fatty junk food with more
> cholesterol etc. Like Pizza, Burger, cocoa- which are not at all meant for
> Indian health or condition .What food these PG owners give are also too bad-
> no nutrition or taste. As the employee come too late in the night to room by
> 2200 hrs or so, they need to get up early to get ready and leave the room by
> 0900 hrs and run hurriedly for workplace leaving breakfast etc.
>
> NOW- these are going to have very severe bad effect on human life cycle.
> In adequate food, excessive work stress,PG room problem, financial burden,
> Prisoner like behaviours by the senior managers, domestic problems, Now
> allowing to use personal emails, not allowing to leave office within the
> stipulated working hours, not giving Saturdays as holidays and calling even
> on Sundays, No other holidays in the name of project etc.These will cause
> serious concern on-Mental health, Personal health, personal life, social
> life, Erectile disfunctions,domestic violence, Divorce, Birth of mentally
> retarded children, strained relations with strained abused children,
> Obesity,(Already Obesity is common with bulging out heavy fatty bodies seen
> on the road everywhere) early old age etc and later Death.(Suicide etc).
>
> Will anyone try out to sort the issue or the Labour commission/National
> Commission for Women (NCW) ? Can it be taken as prevention of feasible
> suicides? Why only IBM follow such Iraq like attitude to Indians? A big
> question to ask? Are not we Indian are going to loose all for one company's
> gain? Our people, our social fame and the life cycle? I feel every educated
> Indian should feel for our thousand years old society first please. SOMEONE
> NEED TO RAISE AN ALARM NOW.
>
>
>
> Dr.Bikash Kumar Das
> Bangalore
>
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-- 
Mr. Ritutapan Borah
Business Analyst, Healthcare
Bangalore
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Umesh Sharma

Washington D.C. 

1-202-215-4328 [Cell]

Ed.M. - International Education Policy
Harvard Graduate School of Education,
Harvard University,
Class of 2005

http://www.uknow.gse.harvard.edu/index.html (Edu info)

http://hbswk.hbs.edu/ (Management Info)

www.gse.harvard.edu/iep  (where the above 2 are used )
http://harvardscience.harvard.edu/

http://jaipurschool.bihu.in/

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