Wednesday bandh?

With India facing Pakistan in the World Cup semi-finals on Wednesday, employees are negotiating with management for a holiday. Some of course, have already planned to bunk work

Wednesday bandh?

With India facing Pakistan in the World Cup semi-finals on Wednesday, employees are negotiating with management for a holiday. Someu00a0 of course, have already planned to bunk work

It's not just that he wants to watch the match. Varun Jha believes it could get awkward at work. A Business Development Analyst with Ashok Piramal Group, Mumbai-based Jha believes that he has the power to propel India to victory when his legs are crossed. "If I am made to report to work and and my boss calls for me, what will I do? I can't uncross my legs. India will lose!" he squirms.
u00a0

We want a holiday
Jha and his colleagues have already made a plea with their HR heads. On Monday, he is formally going to take up the matter with his boss. In case he is refused a holiday, he will follow the match on websites that stream it live. Aaswin Pradhan, an insurance executive at Capita India is unsure of what will happen if he and his colleagues are denied a holiday. "The management has set up a huge projector screen for us to watch the match, but many are already speaking of bunking," he shares.

Company-speak
Google employees, however, have to face no dilemma. Globally known to be one of the most employee-friendly workplaces, Google staff will be let off by 2.30 pm to watch the match. Ferdinand D'Souza, Risk Operation Analyst at Google Hyderabad says, "The office has also set up a big screen for those who wish to watch the match at work."

The HR team of ICICI bank at Mindspace, Malad is trying to get the management to declare Wednesday a half working day. Rupali Lahane on the HR team says, "In case we don't get one, we have set up LCD screens in office so people can follow the match." Silver Emporium in Kalbadevi is giving the day off to its employees.

Rahul Mehta, Director, says, "We (the family that runs the business) are going to the stadium to watch the match. So we are letting everyone else off too." Advertising agency Purple Rabbit has readjusted meetings so that employees are free to watch the match at work. "We need to be in office in case something urgent turns up. But we have decided to set up a projector in the office."u00a0

Echoing the same thoughts, Ameya Joshi of Mudra, an advertising agency said, "It will be a day of fun. We have this huge cafeteria space which can accommodate 150 people. The game will be screened on giant screens for everyone to watch."