HR experts see mid-manager level layoffs for IT in 2012

Excerpts from India Business Hour on CNBC-TV18 Watch the full show »

Banking major Citigroup will lay off several of its India staff and some of them in the mid-managerial level. HR experts say that 2012 will see some shake up among mid level management. CNBC-TV18's Sunanda Jayaseelan reports this exclusive.

Infosys announced a net addition of 3,000 plus people last quarter, while Wipro added 5,000 but experts say while IT companies may look at shoring up entry level employees, their managers may not be as lucky. 

This year will be the highest in terms of exits and involuntary attrition for mid level managers, says Srinivas Kandula, Global Head - HR, iGate Patni.
 
But despite this organisational trimming at the mid-managerial level, top and entry level employees need not panic, as experts feel the focus is now more on operational talent. In fact, HR managers say, efforts are on to retain these two segments, with not just pay hikes and compensation, but also detailed exit interviews in order to prevent future attrition.

In terms of corporate culture, Surabhi Mathur Gandhi VP - Sourcing, TeamLease says, one critical area is exit policies. "I don't think organisations are keen on getting someone who has had an integrity mismatch at the previous organisation.
 
The services business is all about the people and retaining them, agrees Saurabh Govil, Senior VP - HR, Wipro. "The entire process of why they are leaving is critical as well," he says.

Companies maybe inclined towards exit policies but employees seem to be sending out mixed signals. With staffing firm Teamlease's new survey saying close to 15% of Mumbaikars don't follow exit policies seriously whereas their counterparts in the South place an overwhelming emphasis on the same.