My parents started their careers at Tata Steel as graduate trainees
Jamshedpur was far from big city life. They were surrounded only by Tata Steel employees. Stuck in a small town, and the only people you can meet at any time are colleagues. To the modern professional, this sounds like a recipe for disaster.
But all the Tata Steel people I have met have only fond memories and lifelong friends
Some of my parents’ friends have only worked at Tata Steel for their entire lives. Insanely, 30+ years, 1 company. Today, 30+ months, 1 company is rare. There’s no bigger proof of it being an incredible employer than this.
Why Tata Steel was so used to be a mystery to me
Bright young kids joined Tata Steel as trainees for their first few years. They truly were trainees, not employees to be thrown into the grind. As young 22/23-year-olds, they were treated with care and guidance. Most young professionals today complain of burnout and work stress.
Tata Steel members were structurally shielded from this
Training is expensive. Team members are only costing the company, not generating revenue. But Tata Steel chose to afford this. An exceptionally long-term investment, they invested both time and resources. By putting their team first, Tata Steel earned something precious.
Loyalty and long-term commitment
Observe how Tata Steel earned it, rather than demanding it. It wasn’t an accident. The whole organisation operated in the same way. The care didn’t stop after training. A few years into my Dad’s fast-growing career, he made an honest multi-crore error that cost the company years of my Dad’s salary. Instead of making a huge deal out of it, they let it go with an observation
Valuable people were allowed to make mistakes
Surprisingly, the most magical piece was the town. Beyond work, home, travel, stay, everything was taken care of. Employees rarely had to spend on basics. My parents fondly remember the days of their early homes, next to other young couples. Many of these young couples have been friends for decades. These now uncommon friendships are so deep that they can arrive anywhere if anyone else needs them
Tata Steel truly created a family for its teams
Such organisations are exceedingly rare today. Perhaps the world is too fast for such organizations to be attractive to the modern professional. Or perhaps, the commitment-phobic modern professional is chasing mirages when the true way to work is this. But one thing is clear, this is how you create an enduring organization not for years or even decades, but centuries. What makes Tata Steel tick is no longer a mystery to me
It is the Tata Way