WHERE IS THE PARTY TO NIGHT

WHERE IS THE PARTY TO NIGHT ………..HAPPY NEW YEAR !

Barely a few hours are left for the count down! Birth of another year 2017 and end of a old very eventful year 2016! Awakening of Hope, Aspiration and Charged Efforts to make a new beginning!

If you look back, there is nothing NEW and there is nothing OLD! All “Maya” if we take a philosophical approach, as everything is in one’s mind! But for a common man New Year symbolizes party, gifts, good time with friends, relatives, colleagues and others!

New Year brings with it the culture of corporate gifts! Gifts are supposed to be voluntary and should be seen as a token of good will, appreciation and gratitude. It is supposed to be very voluntary in nature without any force and should not have any ulterior motive!

Certain companies as a matter of corporate policy ask all their manager’s to declare all gifts that they have received at the end of the festive season whose value is beyond say 40 USD or so.

As I have been corporate world for nearly four decades I have seen different types of Executive’s behavior, Cultures of organizations, Departmental approach to extract corporate gifts and how people down the line take the same. I feel this should make an interesting reading.

This company is known as “Corporate Marwari “-Nothing bad intended to hurt Marwari’s sentiment, as I feel proud that I am a Marwari myself in terms of managing my finance! Departments which are involved in payment to suppliers, equipment manufacturers etc. in this company used to stop the payment to them around Diwali & X-mas. If any supplier starts chasing them for payment immediate response would be to ask for gifts!

I have had a boss who was running a department of around 50 odd people. He used to collect all the gifts that come to him and other individual in his department etc. The same used to be kept in the department. As per his choice he used to call everyone one by one and distribute the gifts like calendars, diaries, pens etc. to everyone and ensure that everyone gets something. As he was father figure to everyone , his Santa Gesture was appreciated by one and all in the department !!

I was working with a MNC in Mumbai. One of the Executives of this company was working in Ahmadabad. He was coming home for Diwali and was given a gift of Mithai Box wrapped in gift wrapper in the station by a manufacturer. When the train was about to start he opened the same to find a silver box being used to pack the sweets. Knowing the value of the silver box this gentleman got down and went to his factory to return the gift as the same was worth much more than the value of gift he can accept! The cultural & ethical value of the company was impeccable!

Apart from receiving end, I was in the giving end for two years recently! From the Ranks of District Commissioner, Judicial Magistrate, Industries Minister, Pollution Control Board, Districts Industries Center, Superintend of Police, DSP and all sundry were at the receiving end. These people are so clever they would never touch any gifts with their hands. Precious ones like Gold Coin etc. would go directly in to the drawer!!

But the best experience I had was in Thailand. The MNC wherein I used to work as a matter of policy collect all gifts coming to the company in the reception. Each and every gift used to be numbered. Finance Controller of the company would phone major suppliers and ask them to gift, based on the volume of business we had done for the year Microwave woven, Refrigerator, Washing Machines etc. These suppliers would send them gladly as they do not have to give any other gift to anyone in the company.

We used to have a budgetary allocation of say 1000 THB (Thai Baht) per person for annual party. So workmen, supervisors, clerks and other staff need not look around where to attend the party. The party used to be hosted by the company in company premises with all dance and fun. Lots would be drawn and the gifts would be given to the lucky ones. The lots are drawn by Managers and thus there is a sense of bonding and employee involvement in the whole event.

Every employee would be given a gift like Umbrella , Pen Set as the case may be every year. Thus no one goes empty handed.Everyone has fun and looks eagerly to contribute his mite next year with enhanced enthusiasm !!