News has emerged from Google’s offices that should send a shiver down every employee’s back (and make Human Resources jump with joy). Google, concerned by the recent departures of several top executives, has developed an algorithm to try to identify which employees are likely to quit, according to a report in the Wall Street Journal. The algorithm would crunch “data from employee reviews and promotion and pay histories in a mathematical formula” and would show which of its employees were the most likely to quit soon. Laszlo Bock, who runs human resources for Google, told the Journal the algorithm helps the company “get inside people’s heads even before they know they might leave.”
This algorithm has huge potential – a boon of sorts to HR. Imagine its powers. Catch employees going away on holidays too often or falling sick time and again, take his ratings, promotions and pay histories and presto : you know whether he is headed to the hospital or on his way out of your company. HR’s job and primary KRA (Key Responsibility Area) will now become what Sherlock Holmes and our very own Byomkesh Bakshi did – track, follow, pursue, shadow and nab the traitors! Loyal employees who are dedicated and trusty have nothing to hide and nothing to fear. But the plotting, calculating, conniving and devious ones – Beware!
How many times have you bumped into your bosses, super-bosses and the Company CEO’s and MD’s and have been casually asked : So, how are you finding the company? And how many times have you answered with all the earnestness and emphasis in your command : It’s going absolutely great, Sir. I totally love my job. Do we really have to follow a Light’s Out policy at 8PM and no work on Sundays? I could get so much more done if I were allowed to stay the nights and work on weekends… (while your mind is conjuring up pleasant images of your seniors‘ faces on your favorite dartboard and you hitting bull’s eye and yelling – I hate you, your freaking job and your stupid company. If I could, I‘d write out my resignation letter and throw it on your face. After I am gone, I hope your work suffers, you get demoted / pink-slipped and you feel cold, alone and uncared for, just as I have). But do you say this? Nope! You play your cards close to your heart, smile broadly, look happy and lie through your nose. Convincingly. Repeatedly.
So will you now get caught by the HR Under-cover Agents if you even just think of lying? Thankfully, the answer, for now, seems to be No. People Management magazine reported that the chances of Google commercially releasing the quitter finder algorithm were dim. A spokesman for Google clarified that, “The development of HR algorithms is not our core business”.
However, fore-warned is fore-armed. You are behind enemy lines and are constantly being watched.
After all, the New HR Mantra is :
Every breath you take / Every move you make / Every bond you break / Every step you take
I’ll be watching you.
Every single day / Every word you say / Every game you play /Every night you stay
I’ll be watching you.
Every move you make / Every vow you break / Every smile you fake/Every claim you stake
I’ll be watching you
