Infosys Technologies
Grooming employees to be leaders is a key theme here. An impressive Leadership Development Centre in Mysore is the grooming ground for future leaders. The senior-most leaders of the company spend a high percentage of their time, by active involvement in the working of the centre and by conducting workshops, in processes that ensure the successful emergence of dynamic leaders.

Procter & Gamble
The company's principle-based approach, where practices and policies are aligned to employee needs and not directly to their levels, differentiates it clearly from the rest. All initiatives at P&G are driven through employee taskforces, HR being only a facilitator. They have both the budget and the power to take decisions.

Hewlett-Packard (India)
Work-life balance is a clear theme at this company founded by Bill Hewlett and David Packard. Besides providing flexible working arrangements, some innovative practices include additional leave of 10 days for marriage, 10 days if the employee is preparing for higher education, eight weeks for adopting a child, five days for bereavement in the family and five days paternity leave.

SKB Consumer Healthcare
Work-life balance is encouraged in the company through practices such as compressed work-week and flexitime. All area sales managers are provided with laptops, enabling them to work from home. Once every quarter, TGIF is celebrated where employees leave the office an hour-and-a-half before the scheduled time.

Satyam Computers
Who said that mileage cards are restricted to airlines only? This company has its own "suggestions" mileage card. The more the suggestions, the more the points. Just like any other card, attractive rewards can be redeemed, depending upon the number of points that have been accumulated.

Agilent Technologies
Employee satisfaction is serious business here. It is tracked on a weekly basis through Pulse, an online survey. Immediate action plans are taken to ensure that areas of employee concern are addressed. This continuous process ensures a highly satisfied and motivated workforce.

Bharat Heavy Electricals
The company provides complete medical coverage with no cap on expenditure. This coverage is also extended to retired employees of the company. Lifetime medical coverage is provided for mentally challenged children of employees. Critically ill patients, who need treatment abroad, are sent with an escort wherever required.

American Express (India)
Structured forums such as town halls, skip level meetings, home days and MBWA (management by walking around) ensure effective communication in the organisation. The company also encourages employees to maintain a healthy balance between their work and personal lives. Sitting late in office and working on weekends is strictly discouraged. Managers have to ensure that employees complete their leave entitlements for the year. Employees have the flexibility of choosing any 12 optional holidays in the year from a basket of 26 days.

Colgate-Palmolive (India)
People development is a key focus area in this company. All employees, irrespective of grades or function, are required to work the market. Opportunities for cross-functional moves enable employees to develop competencies in other areas. Also, swap assignments are encouraged in the company to provide global exposure.

Gillette India
''World Class Brands, Products, People''-is a key phrase in the brand positioning of Gillette. Exposure to international assignments is provided to employees. These assignments give employees an opportunity to widen business perspective, strengthen functional expertise, transfer best practices and operate in a diverse background.

Hughes Software Systems
A high priority is accorded to employees' family members. Children's school admissions are facilitated by the company, employees are encouraged to be in touch with their families while on travel and family parties are held every quarter. This year, New Year cards were made using the children's paintings. To ease functioning at the workplace, on-line helpdesks for separate functions are present, which take care of queries on an immediate basis.

Tata Steel
The company boasts a series of libraries, which not only provide an exhaustive collection of books, but also allow children of employees to borrow toys, music, and children's books. Moreover, holiday homes, which span the country, allow employees and their families perfect spots for rest and recuperation.

Dr. Reddy's Laboratories
This pharma company believes in the overall development of its employees. The company has a host of interest clubs such as music forum, performing arts club etc., which encourage and exhibit talent of its employees in different areas. Regular outward-bound training programs for employees such as mountain climbing and river rafting offer adventure and fun.

Sasken Communication Technologies
One of the focus areas of this company is building the competence and thereby the employability of its employees. Right from offering paid sabbaticals to sending its employees to leading international management programs, the company does whatever it takes to ensure that its employees are constantly developing. Some other unique practices include-everyone, right from the CEO to the most recent recruit, sits in the same physical workspace; no attendance-logging mechanism is used; employees can choose their designations from a flexible basket; hibernation leave, where on completing four years an employee is eligible for six weeks of paid leave; and organisation-wide Christmas vacation from December 25 to January 1.

Oracle India
Oracle has pioneered a practice, which encourages career opportunities through the 'Oracle Caller Line'. It's a toll-free number where individuals interested in a career in the company can call in and get information on the career opportunities, work culture, policies, practices, and recruitment method of the company.

Reliance
The state-of-the-art facilities ensure that all employee needs are taken care of-housing, schooling, medical, recreational, sport, shopping, and temples. A strong performance-orientation is a striking factor here. Every year managers, along with their team, make performance commitments to the chairman. This presentation, along with a photograph, is laminated and kept on each manager's table. On achieving their target, the chairman sends a letter complimenting the team. A great motivator for the employees.

Indian Oil Corporation
Learning and development is considered critical in this PSU. Employees have the freedom of choosing their training programs, which is followed by an action plan to ensure transfer of learning to the job. Regular feedback from the supervisor assesses the benefits and effectiveness of the training imparted. The company also commissions surveys, which evaluate the effectiveness of their training programs.

Compaq Computer (India)
As expected, technology is cutting edge here. The HR portal facilitates multi-source feedback, self-paced learning, self-nominations to development programs and concierge services. Online resources also include access to the HBR learning centre, training on sales management and interpersonal skills.

Microsoft (India)
This dynamic, engaging, fast-paced and informal company, believes in practising planned diversity in the workplace. It believes that employee diversity promotes a culturally rich workforce that enhances product development and employee performance.

Maruti Udyog
The company values the personal life of its employees. It has a Golden Week, which is a shut-down for two weeks, in June and December to match the holidays of the children. Also, if required, paid maternity leave beyond statutory provision is provided for 36 additional weeks.

Polaris Software Lab
This highly result-oriented company also pays an equal emphasis on having fun. A 'bonzer' man works with different workgroups-playing quizzes and games to facilitate bonding and teamwork and encouraging them to have fun. Birthday bashes, parties, family celebrations, and the Polaris Day, of course, are other means that ensure that the fun element is always maintained.

Johnson & Johnson
The 'Credo', which reflects the mission and values of J&J, is practised and lived by the employees. The programs and practices are all aligned to the Credo and are encouraged through both formal and informal methods. Another unique practice that this company offers its employees is unlimited sick leave.

LG Electronics India
One of the few companies, which not only bring the families right to their doorstep, but goes to their doorstep. Representatives from the company visit employees' homes and inform them about what they (the employees) do at work. Family members are also welcomed to the office premises to get a feel of where their loved ones work. A practice that goes a long way in ensuring family support to work-life stress. Further, assistance is provided to employees on marriages or death of a family member.

ST Microelectronics
An attractive employee referral scheme, where a referral award can go up to Rs 1.6 lakh, ensures that the desired talent is tapped through efficient and cost-effective means. The company also boasts a full-fledged university, which trains employees both in technical and behavioural areas.

Tata Engineering
This auto giant offers an innovative 'Leave Bank' that operates just like any normal bank. Employees credit leave to the bank, and a needy employee can debit the accumulated leave at any point and the total leave available in the bank. It is also one of the rare companies where HR serves not as a cost-centre but a revenue-generator.