HR PRACTICES IN KAL

Midhin Manoharan

COMPANY PROFILE KAL incorporated in 1978 as a government of Kerala

undertaking is setup in the picturesque back drop 16 kilometers south of TVM in a tiny village called Aralumoodu in Neyyattinkara Taluk. The company manufacturers’ three wheelers [diesel, petrol and CNG] suitable for passengers and good traffic in the brand name of Kerala and are considered as most eco-friendly vehicles.

KAL started with a production of petrol engine 3 wheelers from 1988; it began to produce diesel engine 3 wheelers. KAL is the first company to introduce diesel engine 3 wheelers in the country. At present company is concentrating in diesel engineers only.

HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT

HR department is important branch of business management. It constitutes the key to the managerial actions and its success. HRM comprises those activities that have aligned by a separate HRD department under the charge of a staff and service manager known as HRD manager.

The main functions are:

Planning personnel policy Manpower planning Recruitment and selection

 

FUNCTIONS OF HRD DEPARTMENTRECRUITMENT AND SELECTION

The types of recruitment options are three namely direct recruitment, through employee exchanges and through public notification. Direct recruitment is done through advertisement in newspapers and employment exchanges. It is because of the compulsory notification. There is an interview board as committee for the purpose of selection of candidate. Then the merit list is prepared as per the class wise quotation from govt. the final list is published for the selected candidates.

The first step of selection is written test applicable to all workers. Interview is conducted for those who succeed in it. Applicants of technical posts undergo trade test also. Induction program is given to the candidates.

TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT

They will provide on the job training and one year probation period. After that they are appointed permanently.

PROMOTION The promotion for the worker is done as per the service rules

of the workers. A worker who completed 3 years of service is eligible for getting the promotion. The criteria for promotions and the requirement of management should be satisfied. This may be relaxed for promotion every year. If the worker has less eligibility for promotion there will be higher grade promotion for one year.

PERFORMANCE APPRAISAL

It is done according to certain factors such as job knowledge, job responsibility and quantity of work organizing ability punctuality and problem solving ability. Performance appraisal goes through these steps;

Issue of performance appraisal form to the employer Self- appraisal by the supervisor Review by department head Calculation and approval score of each employee in personal

interview Counsel employees for improved performance.

INDUSTRIAL RELATION

The industrial relation in KAL is co-ordeal personnel department is responsible for maintaining good relation between unions and the manufacturer. The recognition for trade union is obtained through referendums by declaring election. The main aim of this is to reduce the number of trade unions in the organization. To recognize a trade union there must be at least 15% of employees under their belt. There are three four elected trade unions at present namely KAL, CITU, INTUC & STU.

TIME KEEPING

A timekeeper is appointed for the purpose and it is registered in a book.

ATTENDANCE

In KAL attendance records are maintained by punching system. Salary is deducted for every extra minutes of late coming as 240 minute exception is given for employees per month.

COMMUNICATION

The flow of information is from the top level to the bottom level. The employees have the permission to report their problems. A suggestion box to MD is placed in the production unit so the worker can inform in their suggestions and grievances directly to the MD.