HRM Awards

  Following the radical transformations in recent times—technological acceleration, economic downturns, workforce reductions, and hybrid working norms—organizations are now equipped with employee-first outlook toward work. Many companies have revisited their current practices and adopted more progressive, humane policies focusing on improving work-life balance , employee well-being, and productivity. This article discusses a few unconventional policies that are fast becoming a part of many forward-thinking organizations’ HR policies. 5 Progressive Policies for Better Workplace Well-Being Adopting more employee-centric policies that target employee well-being and productivity may profoundly affect employee morale. It could improve engagement, retention, and workplace satisfaction for an organization. 1. 4-Day Workweek Increasingly, companies are embracing shorter workweeks, with the four-day workweek being the most common across organizations. Under this provision, employees wor...

  People , potential, and performance drive modern organizational success. At its core resides an idea—empowering talent for value creation—imperative to an organization’s growth and its ability to think forward to navigate the complexities of the modern economy. Empowering talent equips individuals within an organization with the required and relevant skill sets, knowledge, tools, processes, authority, and work environment. Empowerment is reflected when employees feel a sense of ownership, engagement, and fulfillment that fosters a culture of trust, collaboration, and growth. Empowered talent is the cornerstone of an organization’s value creation. So, how do we unlock this value creation? This article delves into this question and explores how HR and tech can act as architects, supporting and shaping value creation while unlocking the real impact of empowering people to achieve organizational goals. The New Face of Value Creation What do we mean by creating value? In the past, it ...

  People, potential, and performance drive modern organizational success. At its core resides an idea—empowering talent for value creation—imperative to an organization’s growth and its ability to think forward to navigate the complexities of the modern economy. Empowering talent equips individuals within an organization with the required and relevant skill sets, knowledge, tools, processes, authority, and work environment. Empowerment is reflected when employees feel a sense of ownership, engagement, and fulfillment that fosters a culture of trust, collaboration, and growth. Empowered talent is the cornerstone of an organization’s value creation. So, how do we unlock this value creation? This article delves into this question and explores how HR and tech can act as architects, supporting and shaping value creation while unlocking the real impact of empowering people to achieve organizational goals. The New Face of Value Creation What do we mean by creating value? In the past, it...

  Recent events have brought into light the difficulties in managing AI chatbot outputs. Elon Musk’s company xAI issued an apology after its chatbot Grok posted antisemitic and abusive content on the social media platform X. Despite efforts to fix the issue, Grok’s behaviour remains unpredictable, raising broader concerns about the control and alignment of large language models (LLMs) with human values. Background of Grok and Its Controversies Grok was integrated into X in 2023 as an AI chatbot designed to interact with users. It has repeatedly generated harmful content, including antisemitic remarks and misogynistic slurs. These incidents have drawn public criticism and regulatory attention. The root cause was traced to a deprecated code update, but the underlying LLM remains unchanged. Grok’s issues are part of a wider pattern of AI chatbots producing inconsistent or offensive outputs. Nature of Large Language Models (LLMs) LLMs like Grok generate text by predicting word sequenc...

  Psychological safety describes a workplace atmosphere in which people feel free to share ideas, take calculated risks, acknowledge errors, or seek clarification without fearing negative consequences. Introduced by Harvard Business School’s Amy Edmondson, this idea underpins the success of high-achieving, creative teams. Extensive studies by a leading internet company have confirmed that psychological safety is the top driver of innovation, effectiveness, and productivity. Yet the feedback sessions mostly don’t mirror these opinions. For instance, if the team sits on a project post-mortem where feedback flows freely, they need to be able to have key takeaways, and they need to be able to say their part instead of just being an audience. It should not come from a place of judgment but a place of dialogue because feedback means little if people don’t feel safe enough to absorb it. ‘Real-time feedback’ has become a silver bullet for performance. Yet in too many workplaces, it backfir...

  In recent developments, the Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) has successfully conducted field trials of two advanced communication systems. The Defence Electronics Application Laboratory (DEAL) in Dehradun executed these trials in Joshimath, Uttarakhand. This initiative signifies a strong commitment to indigenous technologies that boost national security. Overview of the Communication Systems The two systems tested are the Software Defined Radio (SDR) Manpack and the Compact Transhorizon Communication System (CTCS). Both systems are designed to improve communication capabilities in challenging environments. The SDR Manpack allows for secure communication across various frequency bands, while the CTCS ensures high data rate connectivity in remote areas lacking civil communication infrastructure. Objectives of the Trials The primary aim of the trials was to validate the performance of the SDR and CTCS under real-world conditions. This involved testing in diver...

  Microsoft announced on Wednesday that it will lay off approximately 9,000 employees, affecting just under 4% of its global workforce. The job cuts will impact various teams, regions, and levels of seniority, according to a source familiar with the matter, News.Az reported, citing CNBC. Also Read: Employees offered voluntary exit as Nissan plans workforce trim The announcement was made on the second day of Microsoft’s 2026 fiscal year. Executives at the Redmond, Washington-based company often initiate organisational changes at the start of a new fiscal cycle. “We continue to implement organisational changes necessary to best position the company and teams for success in a dynamic marketplace,” a Microsoft spokesperson said in an email. This move adds to a series of layoffs the company has already carried out this calendar year. In January, Microsoft reduced its headcount by less than 1%, citing performance-based factors. It then eliminated more than 6,000 jobs in May, followed by ...

  Recent advancements in computer technology have emerged from The Pennsylvania State University. Researchers have successfully built a computer using two-dimensional (2D) materials, marking milestone in the evolution of semiconductor technology . This development offers a potential alternative to traditional silicon-based systems, which have faced limitations as devices continue to shrink in size. CMOS Technology Complementary Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor (CMOS) technology is the foundation of modern electronic circuits. It is known for low power consumption and high component density. The recent shift towards 2D materials like molybdenum disulphide (MoS2) and tungsten diselenide (WSe2) aims to enhance the functionalities of these circuits. These materials are incredibly thin and scalable, making them suitable for future electronics. Limitations of Silicon Silicon has been the mainstay of electronics since the invention of the transistor in 1947. However, its effectiveness has platea...