You are here: Home > Poll 2009 > Vote You Must > How 26/11 attacks changed Taj hotels' vision on voting...

For the first time, the group is drawing up special shift charts to enable employees to vote; most of India Inc has put business aside for voting day

These elections have not only witnessed a never-seen-before campaign to push every Indian to vote, but have also brought about a marked change in corporate India.

RAVAGED: The Taj Mahal hotel was hit hard during the November terror attacks. file pic

Leading the changed India Inc is a group that owns one of the city's historic structures that was hit hard during the 26/11 attacks the Taj group. The hotel chain, which had never gone out of its way to ensure that employees exercised their franchise, has adopted special measures this year.

"We are asking all departments of the hotel to work out special shift charts for April 30, so that everyone gets the time to vote," said Pankaj Sampat, general manager Taj President. "We had never drawn up special work plans for the elections in the past. However, this time, it's different," added Sampat.

Other measures

Meanwhile, other corporates are also going out of their way to ensure their employees vote. While some have given them holidays and half-days, others have relaxed their working hours. 

HDFC, which has a pan-India employee base of 32,000, has relaxed its working hours. "As responsible corporates, we are allowing our employees to vote according to their convenience. The organisation will support them with flexibile working hours," said an HDFC spokesperson.

IT major Infosys and PR company Perfect Relations are also among those expected to relax their timings to facilitate voting. "Empowe-ring employees to participate in the elections for better governance has always been the practice at Infosys," said a spokesperson. ICICI Bank has declared a holiday on voting day. "We have declared a holiday, so that our employees can vote," said spokesperson Charudutt Deshpande.

Holiday policy on voting day
It is mandatory for all government and semi-government institutions to declare a holiday for its employees on voting day. Private establishments have to either declare a holiday or relax their working hours to enable employees to vote.