Mumbai: Intelnet Global Serices (IGS) plans to focus on the youthful workforce profile in BPO companies which generate its own needs for extra care on the part of the employers. While the late shifts and the strains of handling customers with delicacy do strain employees, companies such as IGS make their jobs much easier by introducing innovative internal programs to keep the employees in good cheer.

"It''s all about the caring environment you create. We don''t have a rigid, structured environment with employees focused only on work-related goals. Being in the customer relationship business, our employees need all the encouragement and support they can get. We keep asking ourselves: Do our employees have fun days? Are there several types of employee activities we can create to make their workspaces attractive and healthy?" said Manuel D''Souza, Head Human Resources.

Intelenet''s "people first" policy continues to focus on its biggest asset — their hard-working employees. An example of the policy: through the second week of January this year, the company, which delivers BPO services for a global clientele, has set up a series of events under the banner "Employee Appreciation Week."

"The work we do centers on customer service, so we believe employee appreciation is a core value building process. A lot of it has to do with the environment that has a big effect. Employees need to know they are important to the business. It''s the best way to keep all our staff happy on the job. We have to treat our employees right because they work under tremendous pressure, putting in long hours and facing all kinds of customers," Manuel D''Souza added.

"It is our way of recognizing and rewarding the passion, resilience, commitment to results especially teamwork and support for one another that our employees bring to work," said Sheldon D''Souza, Sr. Mgr. Training.

The activities included in the week-long program, aimed at creating an environment of fun and camaraderie, included indoor fun cricket matches, a "Mr. and Ms. Intelenet" awards nite, daily themes (headgear, pirates and superheroes, bandages, suits and gowns) and an assortment of other interactive sessions, including a raffle to support a charity of Intelenet''s choice (in the form of a donation or a party for under-privileged kids).

"It is designed as a unique team and individual experience, a great way for employees to see and understand what others are capable of doing or being in different capacities, other than as co-workers," said Sheldon D''Souza,