GO HOME:A Case for Work-Life Balance

There is a saying “ People don’t leave companies; they leave their managers”. What

does it mean? Manager has a major influence on an employee’s work and priorities, and because

of this a person’s manager is often the best or the worst part of an employee’s job.

GO HOME : A CASE FOR WORK-LIFE BALANCE

Finally the date of joining at Kotak Mahindra was near and Mr. Smith had not yet made a

decision about what he should do; stay in his current position at IDFC , where he wasn’t at good

terms with his Boss, Mr. Vishal Charak ,who was a Sr. Manager at IDFC, Jaipur branch and

where all team members were gradually leaving or to join a new company of same sector, Kotak

Mahindra.

When Smith got campus placed from a reputed Business School MDI, Gurgaon after

successfully completing his post-graduation majoring in Sales and Marketing , he was excited to

work with such an organization which had recently started and had a lot of scope in sales

department. Being an optimistic person, he was sure his position would give him a lot of

exposure to step up the ladder of his career. And then it was this time, when he was wondering

whether he could continue working with his manager, Mr. Charak. Relations with his manger

had been tense lately. Also, when the team members started quitting the Sales department . It

was becoming very difficult to handle all the agents, customers with the deadlines of projects.

Background:

Smith was from a small city of Kota, Rajasthan. After he completed his undergraduate in

Electronics and communication, he went for MBA at one of top business school with majors in
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sales and marketing. He had a lot of fun in his post-graduate. He was fairly a good student,

especially in math, he worked harder than most of his friends. Working hard and also doing a

part time job of teaching at an online coaching platform, he managed to land up at a good

organization, at Capital First. After his completion of degree, he had 5 months in his hand till

joining the company , so he applied in a startup to gain few insights to enhance his experience.

Company and Industry Background:

The day of joining reached, 5 th January 2017, Smith was excited about his new company.

Capital FIRST Bank Limited, was a leading Indian financial institution, specializing in providing

debt financing to MSMEs and Consumers in India. Capital First was founded in 2012.Being new

in the market , it had a lot of potential of growth and in terms of learning objectives. When he

joined, he was given the position of Management Trainee under department of Asset

management. Capital First was a NBFC(Non-banking Finance company) which engaged in the

business of loans and advances, acquisition of shares, stocks, debentures, securities. The

company had three lines/channels to sell loans for personal and business benefits, which were

DST(Direct sale team), DSA(Direct Sales Associate) and Online sources. DST was a team which

worked within the company or a bank (But not on rolls) to promote or sell the product. Direct

Sales Team directly mapped with company or outsourced . They had to achieve their targets in a

month.

A direct selling agent or DSA  worked as a referral agent for a bank or NBFC. The job of

a DSA was to find potential customers for the bank they represent. To do this, DSAs looked for

people who are in the market for a loan. DSA was considered more extensive work in his
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company as more clients used to come from DSA channels and considered it as more

challenging.

His initial one month was spent learning about the company, how the sales are generated.

He used most of his time to review previous years year-to -date sales. He was given various

documents to go through to know about the Company. He was working under Mrs. Yadav who

was Manager at Capital First, Jaipur, Rajasthan (See exhibit 1).

After his training period, though he wanted to work in DSA channel, he was admitted

under DST channel. Being a fresher, he wasn’t given that channel. His work included doing all

ground level work and he made a good conversion there. Seeing the high conversions by him ,

Mrs. Yadav allowed him to hire 2 people under him. He was given the target of 25Lakhs which

he took to 35Lakhs and was appreciated by everyone in his team and organization.

He had to pay loans for his new car he had purchased, so he wanted to work in DSA as

his colleagues who worked in another channel i.e. DSA, earned greater incentives. He didn’t

like the fact that he didn’t had the resources to increase the conversions because a lot of it was

handled by DSA department.

It was around July,2017, he knew it was time that he took more challenges and wanted to

join DSA Department. He had a word with his manager Mrs. Yadav, but after a long discussion

he was told that he would have to relocate to new city Kota, Rajasthan if he wanted this new

department. The problem with the new location was that it was quite a small city which lacked

potential customers and had not many areas to explore for clients. Though his family lived there ,

which was the positive side still he tried for few days to convince his manager not to relocate as

it had not that potential to grow. When he knew that he had no option but to relocate, he

relocated with a new position of Manager.

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A little about Sr. Manager, Vishal Charak:

He met his new Manager who was also the Senior manager Mr. Vishal Charak of IDFC

at Kota, who was working under Regional manager Manish Sinha. Mr. Smith was excited to start

his new beginnings at Kota. Vishal was a kind of boss who believed in excessive supervision of

employees. He had the habit of watching the employee's actions closely and provide frequent

criticism on the employee’s work and processes. He had adopted a corporate management style

that focused on the day-to-day performance of individual teams and workers. Smith on the other

hand was not used to work like this, under strict supervision, his old boss i.e. Mrs. Yadav had

given him liberty to work as he wanted. He somewhere knew he would have to change his ways

of working.

It was during this time in around December 2018 NBFC Capital First and private sector

lender IDFC Bank announced the completion of their merger and became “IDFC First”. The

merger presented an incredible opportunity to strengthen the banking capabilities, operate as a

larger universal bank and bring immense benefits to the customers. He had new responsibilities

now, he had to meet new figures which were more than 10 time what he used to do in DST

channel in Jaipur. He increased the sales territory from 35L to 2.5Crore. He was given ‘Ace of

Award’, and also got 1st PAN India Ranking for his position. Mean time he got married to his

fiancé, they both were together from the time of their graduation.

Trouble Started:

In one incident Smith was not able to attend an organizational meeting. Greeted

cheerfully in the photocopy room by Smith., his manager Vishal said nothing but glared
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apoplectically. After the meeting, Mr. Vishal sent Smith an email asking him to explain what he

was doing that was so important that he did not attend the meeting. Smith responded in an email

that he was preparing materials for the following day’s important project event, and said Vishal

had inquired when they met earlier, Smith could have explained then., to which his boss replied

that he expected advance information. At a planning meeting for a project event, when Smith

pointed out that it would be significant for the receptionist to be present promptly at 8:30 a.m. in

case individuals arrive early for the 9:00 a.m. event to which Vishal replied that Smith should be

there at that time. Mr. Smith said that he was responsible for other job roles but; Smith snarled,

in the hearing of all at the meeting, that Smith will be present at 8:30. Smith submitted, to the

entire project team, all data requested by Vishal, and reported weekly, or more frequently, on the

data obtained. The data to which Smith had access didn’t include important particulars available

from the computer system that Smith has never been informed of or used, data that he was never

asked to obtain and distribute. The lack of such data created the need for lastminute changes in

the project schedule. Vishal excluded Smith from the group deciding on the required changes,

and later sent Smith an abusive email (with copies to Mr. Vishal supervisor) castigating Mr.

Smith for not having provided the data beforehand. Smith was left with awestruck by such

behavior of his boss, he copied the same individuals, explaining why he was not at fault. At a

subsequent meeting with Mr. Vishal and his supervisor, Mr. Manish ;Smith asked to address the

issue. Mr. Manish said that would not be the appropriate occasion because there were specific

procedures in place to address the issue. Mr. Vishal did not explain what the procedures were,

and the matter was left unaddressed.

With passing time his relationship with his manager started getting tense, he used to

call him after his office hours to come back to office for work. It was very normal in month ends
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to work for 12-15 hours as they had to do the settlement of the company, but when these working

hours of 12-15 became at regular basis, it got little agonizing. His team members were also

leaving the company, which made him burdened more and more with work. He had a meeting

with his boss to talk about the issue that his team lacked workforce, and as employees were

leaving , they needed to hire new employees. To his utter surprise, his manager backlashed at

him stating “I know my duty well, I know when to hire. You should work little harder and stop

giving these excuses about less workforce. I know you can handle this well”. He was confused if

he should go to the Regional manager to state his problem, but that way it was possible that his

boss would condemn him for going to his manager. This could also worsen his relationship with

Vishal.

One night he was coming back from office and gave a lift to one of his colleagues.They

were having a usual conversation when he got to know that his boss was planning to hire one of

his friends for the position of Manager ( which was currently Smith’s) but, as this was relocation

within the same organization, the boss couldn’t help it, but was bounded to give the position to

Mr. Smith. It was a gossip all around the office how Vishal was exasperated by the new joinee.

But his colleague told him not to worry about it as it happened long back.

That night Smith kept on thinking that maybe this was the reason that his boss wasn’t or

didn’t want to be on good terms with him. He was disconcerted when he realized that worrying

about the next day at work while sitting at home with his family at night had become a pattern.

He kept telling himself that he was fine, everything was fine: Everyone has to be dragged

through the mud a bit before achieving their career goals. He assured himself that he could suck

it up — after all, he was no quitter. But while his brain was muttering this mantra over and over
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again each time, he came close to the edge, his body began to revolt. Physically, he had had

enough.

He couldn’t remember the last time he enjoyed yourself. Everything in his life was revolving

around his professional life, how much he wanted to have balance between his personal and

professional life but when his Sundays also started becoming working, he lost his peace of mind.

He told his wife ” I tried to tell my boss that we need more workforce, I am not able to handle

all the tasks ( Achieve the sales target, conduct training for all the channels and team on product,

policy and market changes, manage business promotional activities with channels). I understand

that with the merging of our bank, there have been changes lately, but how can one-person

handle work of two. He expects me to increase the sale and handle the report of customers also ,

his half of work is done by me. His wife replied” You can always look for a new job, you will

get ample opportunities out there”. He in his heart knew that he didn’t want to quit his job.

Another incident followed when in the month of March 2019, he had to take a leave

because his father wasn’t feeling well, and had to take him to doctor, for which his boss denied

the leave saying that it was the month end, and he was responsible for his work. He realized this

moment that what kind of person he was working under, he got into argument with his boss over

this. According to him he never took unnecessary leaves, and this was something that couldn’t be

avoided. After this conversation, Vishal told him to come after half-time, after the appointment

with the doctor.

He decided to apply for new job and got an offer letter with 20% hike, from

another Banking service “Kotak Bank” , but the incentives were far less than what was being

provided in IDFC First. When his boss got to know about this, he tried to change his mind by

giving him a much higher raise and tried to manipulate by saying that he won’t get good
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incentives in new company, and will regret later in life .As Smith never really wanted to actually

leave that job , getting this offer he thought to stay back in the current company and resolve his

issues with his boss. Later one evening, while he was having tea with his colleagues , he put out

his situation in front of them ,how his boss apologized him and gave him hike so that he can stay

back, what he came to know was that his boss had previously done this with other employees

also and doesn’t stick to his word. He doesn’t want hard working people to leave his side but

doesn’t show any gratitude towards their work.

Several questions persisted in Smith’s mind. What steps should he take next? Set up a

meeting with his boss’s manager? .Do what Vishal tell him and keep his mouth shut, even

though he knew his expectations can’t be met? Shall he listen to his father and join the new

company with less incentives? Then what about the loans he has to pay? He had to sort through

before he went to his boss’s manager, as this thing could backfire him. He had his loans to pay

and at the same time wanted a balanced life.

.
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Exhibit 1

Mrs. Yadav (Manager @Capital

First, Kota) Manish Sinha (Regional
manager @ IDFC First, Jaipur)

Mr. Smith (Management Mr. Vishal Charak (Sr. Manager

Trainee @Kota) (Transfer) @ IDFC First, Jaipur)

Mr. Smith(Manager @IDFC

First ,Jaipur)
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Solution Model :
Control variables: Age, education, marital status,
no. of children

Work and family  Job

life balance factors satisfaction
 Well-being
 Individual
 Organizational Factors

Perceived work-life
balance

Solution Mr. Smith can follow:

1) His boss i.e. Vishal is a micromanager, who likes to control system to an unnecessary

level.

He has tried to talk to him twice, but there was no meaningful discussion. He can try to

have a healthy discussion without have the preconceived notion that his boss won’t listen

to him.
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2) If his boss doesn’t give a proper explanation for his issues, he should reach out to Manish

Sinha( His bosses manager) and explain about less work-force problem. He should also

mention how his work life balance has been disturbed and his everyday extended work-

hours due to less work-force.

3) He gets easily manipulated by what his co-workers say about his boss and his working

style and assumes that he can never be in good terms with his boss.