Suggestions to improve ONGC transfer policy
Despite ONGC's massive transfer announcement on April 15 (2024), one union is not letting up on criticising the job rotation and transfer policy announced in 2023.
On April 12 (2024), ONGC Officers Association (OOA) president George Ravi Shekeran sent a three-page letter to ONGC chairman Arun Singh highlighting "limitations and challenges" in the policy, just three days before ONGC announced the transfer of nearly 2000 executives on April 15 (2024). Shekeran stressed that his main concern is "the lack of transparency and consistency in the transfer process."
He adds that employees often face arbitrary decisions "without clear justification or recourse," which "impacts morale and hampers productivity and career progression." Both employees and ONGC would benefit from a more transparent and standardised transfer policy, according to Shekeran.
Another major challenge is the misalignment between the typical academic year, which runs from April to March, and the transfer process. Executives struggle to secure admissions for their children into "good schools and colleges," leading to "added stress and uncertainty for families."
The OOA suggests that ONGC should "consider the academic calendar when planning transfers." This might involve "coordinating with educational institutions to ensure families have sufficient time to secure admissions and arrange their children's education."
Another OOA suggestion is that ONGC should ensure that executives are allotted flats in colonies (housing estates) before they report to new locations. "Early allotment allows families to plan their relocation more effectively, giving them adequate time to make arrangements such as enrolling children in schools or colleges and settling into new surroundings," writes Shekeran.
This way, "organisations can demonstrate their commitment to supporting employees through the transition and ultimately contribute to smoother relocation and enhanced employee satisfaction." The OOA stresses that executives whose spouses work in other organisations face challenges because of ONGC transfer delays and "it might be worth exploring ways to streamline the transfer process or provide additional support to these executives and spouses during this transition."