When a former colleague and friend asked Pravin Tatavarti, Managing Director at talent management firm Allegis India, to employ his autistic son, he agreed. There wasn’t any reason to say no. Venkat had a masters in commerce and was applying for a data entry role. What he didn’t know was what this would entail. “I didn’t know anyone with disability and had no experience of dealing with them.” Venkat’s performance was decent but his social skills were poor. He didn’t greet anyone, would get jittery, and once even pulled a colleague’s hair. It was when he entered the ladies room that the human resources manager wanted him to leave. For Tatavarti, it was a litmus test considering that as the leader of a service organisation, his job was to help customers get the best out of people.
“Venkat did what he was wired to do, and to leverage his talent, we had to learn to make him a part of our life,” he says. He did a town hall asking employees to be sensitive and, instead of making a fuss, politely tell him to stop. That was in 2014. The company has come a long way since then. It now has 41 people (out of 5,000) with disability and an employment centre, ‘Garv Se’, which helps them find the right job.
This story is from the January 26, 2020 edition of Business Today.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the January 26, 2020 edition of Business Today.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
PMS Vs MF The Big Fight
How do mutual funds and portfolio management services match up? Know the score on structure, rules, entry fees, charges, and tax perks to pick the right path for your financial journey
Four Levers Of Enterprise AI Strategy
Wide-scale private sector AI deployment and new AI-based business opportunities and ecosystems can truly supercharge the Indian economy
"Don't let a unique chance slip by"
JEFF MAGGIONCALDA | CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER | COURSERA
THE INCOMING DISRUPTION
The disruption in the industrial sector is still unknown, but inevitable. Companies need to wake up
THE WHEEL WHISPERER
For Manan Shah, Managing Director of MICL Group, luxury cars are not about showcasing one's wealth or status. It is about personal well-being
TRIPPING WITH TECH
A road trip is an adventure like no other. While you take in the experience, get some peace of mind with these nifty gadgets
Transforming Spaces
WHETHER YOU WANT TO REDECORATE YOUR BEDROOM OR HALLWAY, A GORGEOUS WALLPAPER ADDS FLAIR TO YOUR HOME AND ALLOWS YOU TO STAMP YOUR STYLE IN YOUR NEW ABODE
ALPHATALE
MONEY MANAGERS TO THE AFFLUENT DELIVERED ROBUST RETURNS TO INVESTORS IN THE PAST YEAR, THANKS TO THE BUOYANCY IN THE MARKETS. BUSINESS TODAY DECODES THEIR STRATEGY
"THE ALTERNATIVES SPACE CAN GROW 3X IN FIVE YEARS"
Vikaas M. Sachdeva, MD of Sundaram Alternates, talks about where India's alternative investment industry is headed
"ALWAYS BE DATA-DRIVEN WHILE INVESTING"
First Global's Founder and CMD Devina Mehra on her company's PMS outperformance, technology and industry