An employee-employer relationship in every workplace must be one that should be devoid of any friction, for such conflict can deteriorate your business and can lead to right talent drifting away.

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Here are the ten things every employer should do for their employees to ensure the business fruition into success.

1. Flexibility in working –  Keeping a strict 9-5 work hour policy can drastically affect the productivity of your employees. A lot of companies are understanding the importance of flexibility and are offering varied work timing and work from home facilities.

A survey showed that  84% of working parents prioritized flexible working hours as the most important factor in a job. Flexibility also reduces stress and increases the mental well being of the employee. It helps employees work during their optimum productive hours as opposed to general work time.

2. Commitment to the health and overall well being of the employee – A healthy employee is a happy employee. Providing a group mediclaim insurance policy for employees would help them worry less over their hospitalization and health-related expenses. Employers must also go above and beyond just the physical well being.

Mental wellness should also be part and parcel of the organisation. Wellness programs, stress relief activities can be often integrated into the working hours to help better workers cope with the demands of the organisation.

Read more: Seven reasons why health insurance is a must!

3. Supporting innovation – Employees do not just see their work as a means for sustenance. Their work should challenge them to pick their brains, ideate and come up with new solutions. This would take out the mundanity from doing the same type of work every day. It would also help them push their limits and work with a team to achieve a common goal.

Read more: Why do employees leave organizations?

4. Recognizing and rewarding your employees – Most companies fall short when it comes to recognizing the hard work put in by the employees, all the while handing out constructive criticism. While constructive criticism is important, the scale should also be balanced with recognition and rewards. You can either acknowledge them personally or through awards.

Read more: How to rightly manage your employees

5. Prioritizing work-life balance – Employers cannot expect employees to toll their life away in the office. Not enough time for a personal life can create discord in the office. Create a steady and reliable work environment where employees have a forehand idea of what their day-to-day work would be. Encourage vacation, short breaks through the day, and a safe space for mental rejuvenation. 

6. Promoting career pathway – Create training opportunities for employees to advance their learning skills. Expose them to different realms of work to better channel their aspirations. Do not limit them to one skill alone. Have career discussions and keep your employees aware of various other career paths within the company.

7. Transparency and honesty – If you receive feedback and surveys from your employees, be transparent and honest about how you have dealt with them. Choose to acknowledge the failings in your part as much as the successes. Be honest with your employees on the areas of improvement and how you intend to tackle them.

8. Positive work environment – Bad office politics can be the death of every company. Communicate clearly and offer a safe space for employees to tell you their feelings. Prioritize your employees and their concerns over business outcomes. Good talent can wither away if not offered the right soil to grow in.

9. Offer extra perks than the common basics Rather than just an insurance policy, offer other perks like concert tickets, day outs, team lunches, team building activities to improve the total morale of the company. A once in a while break from daily office routines can do wonders to the employees.

10. Communicate the company statuses with employees – Schedule monthly meetings and communicate where the company stands with regards to business output and the rooms for improvement.

Keeping your employees in the dark will close the doors to their innovative solutions that could help you better the places where your business is lacking.

IPHM Services has raised a seed round of funding from India Angel Fund, most of them Women Entrepreneurs, also first time angel investors. New age healing assistance, IPHM Services [Integrated Personalized Health Care Management], helps design programs and workshops for the psychological well-being of individuals and employees of large organizations.

Founded by Dr. Sachin Bhavsar, IPHM believes that the Heart, Body, Mind and Soul are four pillars of life and an integrated system that needs constant nurturing. Their services aim to assist individuals to reach their own potential by developing skill sets within them, pertinent for their good health, emotional and mental well-being.

An influx of funds would mean training more individuals, employees and aspiring entrepreneurs to reach their potential growth and increase general productivity within an individual. Afterall, all these aspects are interlinked and a positive push in any direction would enhance our own offering.

Speaking on this fund-raise, Dr. Sachin Bhavsar, Founder – IPHM Services said

While we have always believed in nurturing the four attributes for a healthy living, there is also very little awareness of the real-time applications and the rapidly evolving technological advances in the healthcare system. This infusion would mean creating cognizance at the grass-root level and would definitely ameliorate the overall health economy.

Being a subject matter expert and an integral part of IPHM Services, Sneh Kulkarni, Co-founder – IPHM Services remarks

There was always a need-gap between awareness about mental health and real-time use of technology in the healthcare system. We are now one world that has been connected digitally and therefore, it becomes easier to really understand societal structures and socio-economic backgrounds. This enables us to understand the different cultures that people come from, and offer a personalized approach to helping these individuals.

First time angel investor and an alumni from IIM Ahmedabad, Monaliesa Sarkar said

I have been working actively with various NGOs and government bodies in Delhi NCR and I cannot stress enough on the need for more startups to emerge in the mental health space. I also love the fact that an inspiring person like Dr. Sachin is matched by a powerhouse of energy which is Sneh Kulkarni.

I am also kicked that this deal is led by women angels like me, Jyoti, Koel and Sabana and we have a woman entrepreneur like Sneh. I have always advocated that Women Angels should actively lead from the front and back other Women Entrepreneurs.

The third women angel investor on this project is a powerhouse with 17+ years of experience in corporate retail and also runs a successful startup. Koel Dutta said

Having been a professional for 17 + years and having successfully exited from my last startup TieKart, I am now making my first Angel investment thanks to my old friend Rahul Narvekar and I am sure we 4 women angel investors can work with mentoring Sneh on how to build this company, since I have also run a successful startup.

Angel Investors- IAF

The 4th women Angel Investor Sabana Khatoon also an IIM A Alumni, wearing multiple hats as a business woman, active in various initiatives in Kolkatta from helping run TEDxChowringhee to various entrepreneur networks said

Being a single woman entrepreneur and having myself seen so many cases in the past few months of mental health issues, I am quite excited to make my first Angel Investment and that to with Sneh Kulkarni and Dr. Sachin.

India Angel Network has made another seed investment of Rs. 25 lakhs into IPHM Services. Speaking on this deal Rahul Narvekar, Co-founder IAF, said

Mental Health is a subject which has been amplified in mainstream conversations recently and especially in these times of uncertainty and fear and overall negative atmosphere, it has brought home the fact that we need to openly talk about this but also address and heal. I was introduced to Sneh and Dr. Sachin by Rajiv Dabhadkar and was completely awed by their dedication and deep domain expertise in this space.

Dr. Sachin’s personal journey is a story of grit and determination and that is the key ingredient for any entrepreneur. Interesting to note that this has turned into a women dominated deal. We have an awesome majority of women entrepreneurs and I believe that women make the best entrepreneurs, CEOs and Angel Investors. Women do multitasking routinely, are more open about sharing and are natural care givers and that’s what mental health platforms need. Also all the four Angel Investors are first time Angels and I would LOVE to see more women become Angel Investors.

About Integrated Personalized Healthcare Management Services

The USP of the IPHM service is ‘Nurturing health in heart, body, mind, and soul’. IPHM believes that this is an integrated system that works on these four pillars. If one fails then life becomes unbalanced. IPHM offers services such as Stress management, Women wellness, Child and Adolescent Psychology.

Integrated HR is the Programme designed by Integrated Personalized Healthcare Management for the Corporates. IPHM evolves into the mainstream functions of organisations, the remote work revolution predicts further possibilities and is here to stay. Every organization needs to make new strategic choices and also equally need to take care of employee’s mental health.

Qdesq recently launched Qpro, a new vertical to accelerate the restrategizing of workspaces. As the world is amidst the battle with COVID-19, people who started work from home are still sticking to it post lockdown. The fear of the pandemic is restricting many professionals to step outside of their homes and sit out of office.

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Qpro provides on-demand dedicated desks and promotes work near home. You can book any number of desks and pay monthly. Qpro stresses highly on the word ‘flexibility’ and hence ensures no-security deposits and no lock-in period.

The traditional days of having a single office are to be left behind. The new world workforce seeks flexibility to work from anywhere. The head office should be reformed as the place for top executives and conduction of data-sensitive operations. While the teams can work remotely from various managed offices. Qpro acts as the business contingency plan and creates a framework to segregate your team in various offices inter/intra city and puts your business back in action.

Paras Arora, CEO & Co-Founder, Qdesq, said

Qpro will enable all firms to have a financially prudent and productive parallel to work from home, having a fruitful workspace with no strings attached that too on-demand basis in terms of location and flexibility.

All the offices booked through Qpro are affordable and aesthetically designed. The presence of premium facilities will increase the level of productivity. The managed offices have all the basic and advanced amenities like high-speed internet, transport accessibility, CCTV/security, cafeteria, centralized A.C., etc.

One of the key advantages is all the spaces available for booking, abide by the COVID-19 precautionary and check measures, including regular sanitization, social distancing, and adherence for masks.

Lavesh Bhandari, CTO & Co-Founder, Qdesq, said

Qpro not only upgrades the performance factor of the quality but also applies on your financial front where you save capital in the form of no Capex, add of multi-year leases, add or removing a desk as per your requirement, zero fit-out cost etc. which makes it a viable option.

Productivity and growth-oriented environment comprise various factors such as infrastructure, energy, and team collaboration. All of these traits are present in a good working milieu and will have a positive impact on your performance. The future of the workspaces is not working from home rather work near home.

From a single desk to an enterprise solution, Qpro believes in flexibility and productivity for you and your team. It currently caters to Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Delhi-NCR, and key micro-markets in other cities.

Term Life Insurance provides financial support and reduces uncertainties in business and human life. The policy provides safety and security against a particular event. There is always a fear of sudden loss. Insurance provides a cover against any sudden loss.

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The life insurance coverage depends upon a few factors such as your current annual income, financial future liabilities, financial goals, your age at the time of purchase, and several other such responsibilities. However, before getting a term life insurance policy, you’ll have to figure out the right plan for you.

What is Term Insurance

Term Insurance is an agreement wherein an insurance company agrees to pay a specified amount after the death of an insured party as long as the premiums are paid and up to date. Policies give insured persons the assurance that their loved ones will be financially secured even after their death.

Choosing a Term Insurance Plan

  • Family And Work Situation

Your insurance requirements will be influenced by your family situation, your age, your health situation and whether you are an owner or self-employed individual. Getting insurance is important, whether you are single or in a relationship. In the event of your death, your loved ones will have to pay off any financial liabilities you have.

In addition, they may also have to bear some of your shared responsibilities, such as your credit card fees, your car payment, mortgage payment, or any other payments. If you buy term insurance coverage, your debts will not be a burden for your family members and they can fulfil such financial obligations with ease.

  • Life Insurance

A Term Life Insurance Policy is an effective financial tool, it lets you ensure you and your loved ones’ providing financial security in bad times. An unfortunate event like a sudden death of the breadwinner of the family could have a major impact on the financial conditions of the family.

It is best to start thinking about it now and get a policy that will let you cover your needs as a self-employed person and will avoid future concerns for your family.

a. Life Goals – Your personal, family and professional goals will also determine your choice of life insurance plan. This will help you evaluate how much life insurance you need to take out to protect your loved ones in the event of death.

b. Type of Coverage Required – Whether you want an insurance coverage that generates liquidity and surrender value whenever you require or a long term lock-in period tenure. Once you make a decision, you will be well equipped to choose the term insurance plan that works best for you. You can also take the help of a financial security advisor to guide you based on your requirements and direct you to life insurance that meets your needs.

What is a Term Plan Calculator?

A term insurance calculator is an online calculator that helps in calculating the amount of premium payable under the term policy. You would have to mention your age, the coverage that you need, the term of the plan, for how long you want to pay the premium, the frequency in which the premiums would be paid based on your occupation, medical history, etc.

These details will directly affect the calculation of your insurance premium and give you the final premium payable.

How much term life insurance do I need?

A large part of selecting a life insurance plan is by determining how much money your dependents will require. One basic rule of thumb is that the death benefit on your insurance policy should be equal to seven to 15~20 times the amount of your annual salary. The reasonable amount suggested by insurance providers for an insurance policy is six to 10 times the amount of buyer’s annual salary.

JioMart, Reliance Retail’s beta online consumer grocery platform has debuted its JioMart app on Google Play Store and iOS App Store. Within a few days of its launch JioMart app has crossed the 5 lakh downloads mark on the Google Play Store and is one of the top 3 apps in the ‘Shopping’ category.

With the launch of the app, JioMart now enables increased omni-platform interface bringing seamless and enhanced accessibility to consumers.

The mobile generation who find ease of access through app-based interface can now enjoy the convenience of placing orders through the JioMart app interface available for both Android and iOS devices.

Consumers who use both app as well as the portal interface on different devices can seamlessly migrate between the platforms with their login id and access their previous orders and cart items.

The beta platform jiomart.com was launched simultaneously in nearly 200 cities and towns across the country towards the end of March. The extensive availability of JioMart platform across the country truly democratized digital shopping for essentials by bringing the online ordering service to several tier II and tier III towns, where customers are experiencing online shopping and home delivery of grocery, fruits and vegetables and essential goods for the first time.

JioMart has continuously been adding new products, features, brands and varieties each day, offering a whole new experience and extensive bouquet of choices to its customers every time they shop. The bouquet of products now includes a wide range of personal care products, home and kitchen care products, puja needs, shoe care, baby care products, branded foods etc. With its Smart store price promise JioMart offers attractive prices on essentials with a minimum 5% discount on all products.

Besides, JioMart has also started providing multiple convenient payment options to the customers as it recently added Sodexo meal coupons to its existing payment options of net banking, credit and debit cards, ROne loyalty points, cash on delivery etc. Recently, it also has added credit card and wallets with cash back offers.

During the recent AGM of RIL Chairman and Managing Director Mukesh Ambani had informed about JioMart now taking over 2.5 lakh daily orders from across the country and the number is rising very fast with every single day.

Elaborating on the ambitious expansion plan of JioMart he had said

JioMart is now focused on scaling its geographical reach and delivery capabilities. JioMart is obsessed with providing convenience and a superior shopping experience to consumers. In addition to grocery, we will expand JioMart to cover electronics, fashion, pharmaceutical and healthcare in the days ahead. In the coming years, we will cover many more cities, serve many more customers across India, and expand to many more categories.

Post the announcement of JioMart at the AGM, analysts are upbeat about the JioMart initiative in their reports with Goldman Sachs stating “We believe RIL’s partnership with Facebook could result in the company becoming a market leader in the online grocery space, with more than 50 per cent share by 2024.

Ather Energy, India’s first intelligent electric scooter manufacturer, announced a fresh investment by Hero MotoCorp, as an extension of its Series C round that was led by Sachin Bansal. Hero MotoCorp has been a part of Ather’s growth story since 2016, when they first invested as a part of Series B. This round is a reinstatement of confidence by existing investors in Ather’s potential and success.

Ather is now entering an aggressive expansion phase on the back of its flagship product, the Ather 450X, and looking to scale to 20 cities by the end of 2021. The Ather 450X has piqued the interest of automobile and tech enthusiasts alike, and will soon be available in cities like Hyderabad, Pune, Delhi and Mumbai, with deliveries beginning in October 2020.

To meet the projected demand in the coming years, Ather is opening a new manufacturing facility in Hosur, which is designed to produce 100,000 units annually, and is scalable to half a million units.  Ather Energy will also set up Ather Grid fast charging points across the country over the next 5 years, making public charging easy and accessible to all electric vehicle owners.

Tarun Mehta, CEO – Ather Energy

In the past few weeks, Ather has been working on a slew of financing and ownership models, making electric vehicles more accessible for consumers everywhere. It introduced India’s first personal lease program for scooters, with monthly payments as low as INR 2589, which makes the intelligent electric scooter accessible to the Indian two-wheeler market.

It has also been a pioneer in the post sales experience innovation with subscription plans, Ather One, a one-stop daily usage solution that includes doorstep pick up and service, 24*7 roadside assistance, free charging at home and in public etc.

Ather450X

A unique aspect of the product line is the ability to add new features and functionality through OTA software updates. Ather has been rolling out OTA updates since September 2018, adding features like a dark theme, new ride modes, guide-me-home light, making them one of the fastest iteration cycles in the country.

Tarun Mehta, Co-founder & CEO, Ather Energy, said

We are in a high growth phase of our journey, and while the last few months have been challenging, we have not altered our expansion plans. Our geographic expansion and the roll-out schedule for the Ather 450X are on track, and we will be using these funds to invest in our facilities to meet the demand we have seen for the Ather 450X across the country.

Commenting on the investment, Rajat Bhargava, Head of Emerging Mobility Business Unit [EMBU], Global Business & Strategy, Hero MotoCorp, said

We are excited to see the growth of Ather Energy in the recent years. We see immense potential for them to expand their market even further, especially given the likely growth of electric vehicles [EV] in the near future.

In addition to our efforts of developing a robust external eco-system for EVs, we are also aggressively working on our internal EV program. Our aim is to provide accessible electric mobility to customers across the globe. Sustainability and a clean, green environment remain central to our vision to be the future of mobility.

Who doesn’t know what ULIP is? A Unit Linked Insurance Plan is a product provided by numerous insurance companies that, gives financiers benefits of both insurance and investment under a single integrated plan.

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Despite knowing the basics of a ULIP plan, some of us have been read or informed about some myths. In this article, we will debunk those myths and clear your way to get a ULIP plan.

1. Myth – ULIPs are expensive than most investment products

TruthULIP policies were expensive way back in 2008. But times have changed and Fund management fees have reduced significantly, and so have the premium charges.

India’s insurance regulator [IRDAI] has capped costs of gross yield for policies with a duration of up to 10 years and 2.25 percent for those above ten years. Hence, charges and commission in ULIP plans have significantly decreased.

2. Myth – Market instability affects ULIP life cover

TruthLife cover in ULIPs remain unaffected despite market fluctuations.

Since ULIPs are usually linked to the equity market, some policyholders believe that the sum assured would decrease if the market is down trending. This, however, is another misunderstanding.

Despite a bear market, the life cover remains unchanged even if the fund values hit an all-time low. In the case of the investor’s death, ULIPs reward the entire life cover or the fund value, whichever is higher in value.

3. Myth – ULIPs do not give good returns

TruthULIPs offer insurance cover and cannot be linked to pure investment options

Most people compare ULIP plans to pure investment vehicles and hence do not realise that this comparison cannot be valid. ULIPs offer insurance cover, something that no other pure financial investment product offers.

Given these advantages, you’d understand that the returns they provide are quite competitive. If you have an investment horizon for more than 5-7 years, then there is no better product then ULIPs.

4. Myth – ULIPs are risky as they are associated with equity markets

TruthIn the case of ULIPs, you can select your investment based on the level of your risk appetite and the amount of money you have.

ULIPs let you choose funds with different investment objectives while providing you with the option to select the kind and level of risk you are willing to take. Depending on your risk appetite and conditions, you can choose a conventional fund or a top-performing fund.

For example, an investor in his 20s with few financial responsibilities would be a more significant risk-taker and will choose fast-growing funds like equity. On the other hand, an investor nearing his retirement might choose a non-aggressive tactic such as a debt fund.

5. Myth – ULIPs cannot be yielded before maturity

TruthULIPs can be surrendered after a defined period.

This common myth surrounding ULIPs is false. As a policyholder, you have the option to surrender the policy after a determined period, which is usually five years from the start of the ULIP product.

People have preferred ULIPs for years. But, some misconceptions about them lead to the negativity around ULIP policies. Now that we have debunked some of them make sure you research, analyse and invest in the best ULIP plan that suits you.

The entire world is navigating through the a crisis and the fallout of the global pandemic has upset political, financial, and economic structures worldwide.

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Climate change is a bigger challenge that has been there for a long time and has the potential to impact every human, industry, and living organism on the planet.

Climate Change – Catastrophic impacts on our planet

Changing weather patterns, rising sea levels, and extreme weather events are some of the ways in which climate change is proliferating around the world. As per a developer survey conducted by IBM, 77 percent of the first responders and developers agreed that ‘climate change is indeed the most pressing issue faced by today’s generation’ [Source].

Another insightful study throws some light on preparedness for natural disasters. By 2050, the global population is expected to reach 9.5 billion people, which will put further pressure on the earth’s resources [Source]. Imagine a scenario where 100+ people are living in a small room, how cramped and suffocating it would be for those people?

The same thing will happen if the existing natural resources offered by the earth are not enough to serve living organisms on the earth. Apart from the impact caused on the natural resources on the earth, global warming has led to a rise in the overall temperature of the earth.

A growing amount of GHG [Green House Gases] are also preventing the heat radiated from Earth’s surface to escape into space. Due to this, the heat content in the upper ocean has increased a lot over the last two decades. By 2100, global temperatures could rise by 3-5 degrees Celsius [5.4~9.0 degrees Fahrenheit].

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Technological solutions can be instrumental in combating climate change. In the past, IBM has taken significant strides by connecting humanitarian experts with talented developers across the world to keep a check on climate change. #CallForCode is one such initiative by IBM through which the company plans to identify and deploy technology solutions to create a better world for tomorrow.

#CallForCode 2020 – Focus on Prevention and Reversal of Climate Change

Call for Code is a global campaign that was started by David Clark Cause in 2018 and IBM has been the founding partner since the inception of #CallForCode. Call for Code is an initiative targeted towards developers, data scientists, and change-makers who intend to make this world a better place to live! They can catalyze their skills to create solutions using IBM tools.

Call for Code 2019 received a phenomenal response as over 180,000 participants from 165 nations participated in the hackathon focused on relief and natural disaster preparedness. Whopping 5000 applications were created in that edition of Call for Code [Source].

The tracks for #CallForCode 2020 are understandably #Covid-19 and #ClimateChange. Call for Code 2020 is an ideal platform for developers and change agents, as they get an opportunity to utilize their passion for creating technology solutions that can reverse the impact of climate change.

Development Tracks for #CallforCode 2020

The development tracks [or sub-categories] are more relevant than ever before:

IBM provides all necessary resources, tool kits, and products that can be used for creating meaningful solutions for combating climate change. Starter kits from IBM are ideal resources for understanding the scope of the problem and build applications in a short span of time. Climate Change enthusiasts can refer to starter kits, technical resources, and reference materials related to that topic here.

Steps to participate in #CallforCode 2020

For participating in #CallForCode 2020, perform the following steps:

  1. Accept the Challenge – Create your IBM Id & join the challenge by clicking on https://cloud.ibm.com/registration.
  2. Build with open-technology – Leverage available resources such as code patterns, expert videos, and tutorials for giving shape to your idea.
  3. Build a winning team – Leverage the community for getting support, in terms of finding teammates, meeting experts, asking questions, or simply sharing path-breaking ideas.
  4. Submit your idea – Submit details about the idea and the thought process that went into building the same. You also need to submit the participation agreement. The winner stands a chance to win a whopping $200,00.

Important Dates for #CallForCode 2020

  • Final Submission Deadline31st July, 2020
  • Announcement of Global Challenge WinnersOctober, 2020
  • Prize$200,000, Open source support from the Linux foundation, meetings with mentors and investors, and seeing their solution getting deployed through Code and Response to further exemplify using tech for good.

Time to be a part of the change with #CallForCode 2020