Are Indian employers only fair-weather friends? There was a time when Aditi, a Bangalore-based IT company, used to welcome freshers with an elephant hired for the occasion. Today, the only elephants left are on the rolls already — the five per cent “non-performing” white elephants that every IT company is trying to cull annually. It doesn’t matter that you are good at your work; like relative grading, you can score 95 per cent but still fail because the others have done better.

At Intel in the US, they haven’t abandoned such “perks”. Reports Fortune magazine, citing it as an example of how the best employers to work for keep their employees happy: “Intel welcomes its new employees to the company by rolling out the red carpet — literally — once a quarter. During the first day of orientation, hires walk along a pathway lined with Intel Studios’ photographers and videographers before introducing themselves onstage and receiving their welcome packages (and a round of applause from an audience of new colleagues).” The top companies, according to Fortune, are: Google, SAS and CHG Healthcare. (Intel is No 68.)

Who are the leaders in India? IT has dominated for a long time. Today, with the economic scenario changing, all the Indian companies are trying to cut costs. The wage bill seems to be the first target.

IT still continues to dominate, however, but they are foreign companies. The Randstad Award 2013 puts the three toppers as Microsoft (the choice of 81 per cent of potential employees), Hewlett Packard (76 per cent) and Google India (76 per cent). It hasn't changed much over the past few years. In 2012, it was Google India, Microsoft and Oracle (in that order) and, in 2011, Microsoft, Google India and Larsen & Toubro.

The No. 3 — an Indian engineering company — deserves kudos for breaking into this elite club. Others on the Randstad 2013 top 10 list are IBM, ONGC, Sony, Larsen & Toubro, Steel Authority of India, SBI and Tata Consultancy Services. This should open the eyes of some who believe that the public sector is a morass of inefficiency.

Job security plays a part in the best employer ranking, of course. The public sector is way ahead in this; perhaps the IT sector with its huge attrition rates – not all of it voluntary — is the worst. Reports the Randstad survey: “Salary (12%) is viewed as the most important factor when looking for an employer in India, showing a leap forward compared to 2012 (8%). Job security (10%) becomes less important (15% in 2012) dropping to second place before career progression opportunities (8%). Work-life balance (8%) and atmosphere (7%) are next, both showing growth in importance. While employers’ financial health was top priority in 2012 (35%), it is now ranked sixth with only 7%. When potential employees are asked to select their top 5 of most important factors, the outcome is slightly different: salary (47%) is still first, followed by job security (42%), while atmosphere (39%) moves up in the ranking before work-life balance (38%) and career progression opportunities (37%).”

But information technology, communication, telecom & ITES as a category still leads as the most attractive sector followed by FMCG, durables and retail, and energy and infrastructure. “These are in line with current market sentiments,” says Randstad India MD & CEO E. Balaji. “Understanding the pulse of what the workforce wants is the best route to building a strong employer brand and remaining an attractive employer.”

What do employees want? What makes a best employer? HR consultancy Hewitt encapsulates it in its Global Best Employers Study: Inspired leadership; unique company culture; focus on growing talent; strong sense of accountability; and aligned HR practices and excellent execution.

Many new Indian companies started the right way, but they have gone off track. You don’t need elephants; just concern, care and commitment.

THE BEST EMPLOYERS GLOBALLY

The 2013 Randstad Award

Mercedes Benz (Argentina)

ABC (Australia)

Techspace Aero (Belgium)

WestJet Airlines (Canada)

Bank of China (China)

Groupe Canal+ (France)

Audi (Germany)

MTR (Hong Kong)

Microsoft (India)

La Feltrinelli (Italy)

Suntory Holdings (Japan)

Air New Zealand (New Zealand)

KGHM Polska Miedz (Poland)

Singapore Airlines (Singapore)

Eads CASA (Spain)

John Lewis (UK)

Microsoft (US)

These are the top employers in their respective geographies

Source: Randstad