Dear Sudhir
I am short of words to express my awe and respect for you.
the way you tackle life is surely inspiring for all.
I think we in public sector are blessed/cursed into inertia.
-----Original Message-----
From: accessindia-boun...@accessindia.org.in
[mailto:accessindia-boun...@accessindia.org.in] On Behalf Of Sudhir R
(NeSTIT)
Sent: Thursday, January 12, 2012 12:10 PM
To: accessindia@accessindia.org.in
Subject: Re: [AI] Comparing Apples with Apples
Hi folks,
Interesting to read about the mixed experiences of visually challenged
friends from different domains. Would like to contribute my own
experience in this matter, for whatever it is worth. At least, someone
else can learn from the many mistakes I made, you know.
I should say I bucked the general trend of visually challenged persons
in India, by moving out from the relative safety of the diversified
public sector company, where I was working before going blind, to a
private sector software company, after losing sight. The reasons for
this contrarian trend were many, but, not topical to this discussion.
This change of domain (from engineering consultancy to software) and
sector occurred at the wrong age, viz. when I was 40. Given the Indian
demographics, anyone above the age of 35 is at a serious disadvantage,
especially while switching industries (unless, of course, one has the
stamp of top-notch B schools / technical institutes in one's CV.)
Disability really skewed the pitch for me when I started hunting for
another job. In spite of a good academic record and 16 years of
cross-functional experience, the CEOs I personally called on were
politely apologetic. They did not have an opening for a blind guy in
their scheme of things.
The company I finally joined after 8 months of desperate hunt does not
profess to any pretensions of being an "equal opportunity employer", in
spite of the fact that a couple of my colleagues are hearing challenged.
And, I still am not sure why the MD of this company decided to take a
gamble with a blind guy, especially for a hot seat like business
development.
Whatever motivated the gentleman is besides the point. Suffice to say I
needed a job badly and I got a job. But, coming from a public sector
background and seriously disadvantaged by disablement and reluctance to
relocate out of Kochi, I did not have any negotiating leverage and had
to accept the package offered to me.
However, in the process, I discovered that I had lost, relatively
speaking, on seniority, designation and compensation. My bosses and
colleagues were kind and helpful, but, they had no clue what a blind guy
was going to do as a business development manager. Especially, since
they knew I was a greenhorn as far as IT was concerned and couldn't tell
a client apart from a server. (smile)
Now, I have been in the company for 7 years. Thanks entirely to Divine
Grace, I have been able to prove my mettle, both on back-end activities
like prospecting, cold-calling, proposal preparation, etc and on
front-end roles like client presentations, negotiations and account
management. It has been an amusing experience to observe the sense of
shock and surprise of clients when they finally discover they have been
all along talking on the phone / exchanging mails with a blind guy.
(smile) I have also been handling assignments pertaining to my other
specializations, viz. corporate planning and training.
As my responsibilities grew, there was a correction in my seniority,
designation and compensation. However, the software industry is more
dynamic than the manufacturing sector I had been working with, and, I
discovered, much like Alice in Wonderland, that one had to keep running
fast merely to remain at the same place. This is an industry
characterized by attrition and lateral movement and, somehow, resources
with transfer value tend to get better appraisals than resources
showing loyalty. The company tends to assume that a resource with a
physical disability is not gonna move out and this seriously hampers
competitive appraisals with respect to peers.
Finally, late last year, I had to put in my papers. This was a genuine
move as I had come to the conclusion that the work pressure was
beginning to affect my health and work-life balance and I had decided to
move on to teaching / training and freelance writing. However, the
company came out with a retention package that was quite gratifying and
I decided to continue. Btw, I now head the Business Development Group,
a fact I find at once ego-boosting yet quite challenging, considering
the US slowdown and European sovereign debt crisis impacting IT
spending of client companies.
To draw conclusions from this longish auto-bio, here's what I would
advise my younger colleagues, especially in IT / BPO sectors :
a) The private sector is only bottom-line driven. Whatever lip
service the company may pay to CSR / equal opportunity employment is
only a brand-building exercise aimed at getting publicity.
b) Private employers tend to look at the disabled as a cheap and loyal
source of resources. If one does not have a negotiating leverage (such
as sterling qualifications, certifications, technology competence, etc)
one is likely to be taken for a ride. (Remember how it was reported on
AI a few years back that one of the leading MNC "equal opportunity
employers" was keeping some of its disabled employees as contract
resources for long periods.
c) Having said this, private sector respects the "TINA" (There Is No
Alternative) factor of an employee. An employee who has built up his
TINA factor well is treated fairly, whether he is disabled or not.
Building up the TINA factor is strenuous, yes. But, it can be a
learning experience, boosting our own self-confidence in the process.
d) Private sector is a jungle where unexpected dangers are waiting to
pounce on. Opt for the public sector where one gets the benefits of
equity, common appraisal processes with norms for promotions and hikes,
job security, pensions etc. Finally, this makes for better quality of
life. However weak, one has the protection of the PWD Act, CCPD, the
Courts etc.
Sorry if my long narrative bored you. I have been asked many times to
share my experience since it is somewhat unique and in a functional
area (marketing) where visually challenged are not represented and
hence this exercise.
Curious to know your views / experiences, esp in the private sector.
Thanks and rgds
R Sudhir
M: 098 472 76 126
Face Book : Sudhir R Shenoy (sudhir.ko...@gmail.com)
-----Original Message-----
From: accessindia-boun...@accessindia.org.in
[mailto:accessindia-boun...@accessindia.org.in] On Behalf Of Zujar
Shabbir Kanchwala
Sent: Wednesday, January 11, 2012 11:06 AM
To: accessindia@accessindia.org.in
Subject: Re: [AI] Comparing Apples with Apples
Hi,
I am part of a great team where my disability doesn't find a place in
my appraisal discussions and performance ratings. However the online
tranings are inaccessible and nothing much is happening about it on an
organizational level. On the other hand, I am assigned most difficult
tasks these days and am being constantly asked to mentor other team
members and delegate work to them to make them more efficient. I was
also awarded the "Best Performer 2011" trophy last month along with
two other team members.
On 1/11/12, Pankaj Kwatra <pankaj.kwa...@tecnovate.co.in> wrote:
Hello All,
Disability is certain factor in work , salary , promotion in India
aPWD's are not treated equally with some exceptions. I have come
across
many people who cannot even think of blind person working on computer
,
you can call it lack of awareness.
Hiring a disabled is just fulfilling obligation , mercy or social
responsibility.
Cheers,
Pankaj Kwatra
-----Original Message-----
From: accessindia-boun...@accessindia.org.in
[mailto:accessindia-boun...@accessindia.org.in] On Behalf Of Asudani,
Rajesh
Sent: Wednesday, January 11, 2012 10:13 AM
To: accessindia@accessindia.org.in
Subject: Re: [AI] Comparing Apples with Apples
If they don't know of your disability and you did not need any
differential ways/things for your work, then I have to say that you
are
not qualified to answer the question of job appraisals for disabled
employees, as the situation is inapplicable to you...
Disability surely is a relevant factor in job appraisals, that's all I
can say for now...
-----Original Message-----
From: accessindia-boun...@accessindia.org.in
[mailto:accessindia-boun...@accessindia.org.in] On Behalf Of Zeba Naaz
Sent: Tuesday, January 10, 2012 7:49 PM
To: Mujtaba Merchant; accessindia@accessindia.org.in
Subject: Re: [AI] Comparing Apples with Apples
well Mujtaba,
in my case i am the only vi person who is working in my company i am
working as an account manager into US staffing, so as well as i
didnt face any kind of discrimination and most of the people doesnt
know about my disability i am partial so i use to do my work very
normally and for appraisal we all get the appraisal on our
performance not on our disability ...
On 1/10/12, Mujtaba Merchant <mujta...@gmail.com> wrote:
Hello Members,
Here today I bring in another debateable topic of discussion to the
group.
I understand getting a job as a visually impaired person is a
challenge in
it self. Those of us who make it through have some sense of
acccomplishment.
Once in the job other factors come into play mainly for the sake of
this
discussion I would like to address "Performance Rating".
I would like the members who are already employed to shed some light
on this
subject. How is your performance measured? Are you compared to the
rest of
your team which comprises of sighted people? OR is there a mix of it?
or do
they have some other way of rating your performance? Are they
comparing
apples with apples when it comes to performance rating? Does your
disability
come in the way of appraisals or promotions?
I assume that there is no solid answer to any of these questions. But
it
will help in getting some clarity on the subject from our community
members
who are already employed and on the job. Do share your views on this
please.
Mujtaba Merchant
Bangalore, India
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Best Regards,
Zujar...
An optimist laughs to forget, whereas a pessimist forgets to laugh!
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