IT, BPO companies bond over Valentine's Day

February 14, which is celebrated as Valentine's Day, is one of those very few dates in a year when the 24X7 information technology and business process outsourcing firms allow their employees to let their hair down.

This year, the date falls on a Sunday, which is a holiday for most companies. But it has not deterred BPO firms from celebrating in advance.

Either a big party or a simple dress code in reds, pinks, whites or blacks are being observed in BPO offices across the country by fun-loving employees, within office hours.

The festivities began a couple of days back with dress codes and competitions and rose auctions - all in a bid to increase camaraderie and have some fun amid a hectic schedule, say company managers and human resources heads.

"We are setting up the floor and getting ready for the V-day celebrations. We have rose auctions that take the celebration to a different competitive level.

The highest bidder wins all the five roses, one from each business and that person presents them to his loved one. In the previous year, our highest bid was Rs 4,800 and five roses were auctioned for Rs 17,000. This year we expect the figure to go higher," says Prabhat Ranjan, manager, operations with Sitel in Hyderabad.

Site also had a disco night last year with a live disc jockey, and the employees have similar plans this time too.

The IT-BPO hub of Pune is not far behind in its Valentine's Day celebrations.

WNS Global Services employees are observing a pink and white dress code, while the company's Mumbai office has a red dress code. Says human resource executive Arun Thapar: "We don't really have the time to do extra activities for celebrating Valentine's Day. But we observe a dress code to add a little zing to life at work."

Gurgaon-based BPO major Genpact, though, does not have any official celebrations on the cards.

"We do not have any official party or celebrations for Valentine's Day. But, we celebrate holidays like Diwali in office. Our employees are free to celebrate V-Day the way they want within the broad guidelines that the company has," says Piyush Mehta, senior vice-chairman, human resource.

Tata Consultancy Services has different rules for Valentine's Day celebrations for its different offices.

Its Mumbai set-up is observing a red colour dress code along with fun at work activities, refreshments and games, says CRM consultant Santosh Asbe.

HCL's BPO office in Delhi is having a Valentine bash at work on Friday like many other BPOs since the weekend begins tomorrow, meaning off days for most employees.

Vishal Ajmera, a trainer, says: "Here for each process we have an assigned fund. For example, for a process of close to 60 people the budget would be between Rs 4,000 and Rs 5,000 from the client.

Around this time the clients are on the floor and they take keen interest in the fun. Decorations are done but only suggestive. An in-house team selects the best decorated floor and they get gifts, etc."

Another outsourcing company, 3G, in Pune is also going great guns to have V-Day celebrations for its employees. Rahul Deshpande, team leader, says: "Yesterday we distributed greeting cards to employees. The employees will give those cards to people they like.

The person who receives the maximum number of cards will be announced Mr and Ms Valentine in our office. Such competitions are on and the company has sponsored red roses which are also distributed."