“@gauravpramanik, arising out of an investigation carried out in the matter, the concerned employee has been separated from the employment of the company with immediate effect. At Tech Mahindra, we believe in diversity & inclusion & condemn discrimination of any kind in the workplace”, the company tweeted late Saturday.
Reacting to the quick action by the company, Gaurav Probir Pramanik tweeted: “I stand vindicated. Thank you to all those who’ve been steadfastly supporting me. I have nothing but appreciation for all your support and words of encouragement.” He had taken to social media to make public his angst against his former boss Richa Gautam, who was then the diversity and inclusion lead, terming her behaviour in the past as “bigoted” and “homophobic”. According to revelations made by Pramanik, Gautam was prejudiced and would often ridicule him for being gay.
Soon after Pramanik made these allegations, the company’s corporate ombudsman sprang into action to investigate the matter. Mahindra Group chairman, Anand Mahindra, who is a regular tweeter, assured Pramanik: “We will ascertain the facts and see that the outcome is fair and just.”
Sources said the investigation was thorough, based on conversations with a number of current and former employees of the company. A source said the realization in the last two days has been to educate more and the fact that nothing is bigger than the right action taken, ensured the investigation was carried out at top speed. Gautam could not be reached for her comments.
The developments at Tech Mahindra highlight the need for greater gender sensitization of employees at the workplace. Industry experts said in these times when there’s a war for talent, companies can ill-afford human resource functions that are devoid of empathy and disengaging for employees.
This is the second instance in the last one year that Tech Mahindra has come under fire on the HR front. Last year, it was the brash manner in which an employee was handed out a pink slip, an audio clip of which went viral, forcing its top management to take notice and act.