Indian IT firms are witnessing a significant jump in attrition levels. Retention has become a key challenge. Several IT firms are set to implement Employee stock option plans (ESOPs), reports Bibhu Ranjan Mishra from the Business Standard. Infosys discontinued its ESOP policy in May 2003, saying “the employees are not keen on it.” However, in June this year, when Infosys Employee Welfare Trust announced the distribution of equity shares to those eligible, at least 140 employees serving notice periods withdrew their resignations overnight. (ESOPs back in IT firms to reduce attrition, SiliconIndia, 8/11/10)
Over the years, the US-based National Center for Employee Ownership (NCEO) has conducted and reported on research on employee ownership and corporate performance. The research comes to a very definite conclusion: the combination of ownership and participative management is a powerful competitive tool. Neither ownership nor participation alone, however, accomplishes very much. (Research on Employee Ownership and Corporate Performance) Indian IT firms might do well to combine their ESOPs with participative management programs, which will give employees even more reason to feel they have a meaningful long-term role in their company.
A survey by the ESOP Association and the Employee Ownership Foundation found 23% of respondents said their Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) was created to provide an additional employee benefit, and another 21% stated the attraction of the employee ownership concept as the reason. Eighty-four percent of respondents agreed that the ESOP improved motivation and productivity, and 78% of companies advertise the fact that they are employee owned through Web sites, in company literature, and in marketing campaigns, according to a press release. (Majority of ESOP Sponsors Offer another Retirement Plan, PlanSponsor.com, 8/11/10)
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