Sober up

Mon, Sep 29 01:40 AM

If you are young, have a hectic social life where you drink and party every night, and have applied for a job, chances are you will lose out to someone who is a teetotaler. Yes, you heard right.

A random survey of 375 CEOs in the medium and large-scale private sector industries by ASSOCHAM threw up some startling facts. Almost 55 per cent of the CEOs interviewed said they would choose teetotalers over people who drink.

Why teetotalers? Whether hiring at entry level or mid level, the choice of recruiters has undergone a seachange. In fact, of the 375 CEOs, 206 said that they would recruit only those young boys and girls who observe total abstinence from alcohol.

The common perception among the CEOs questioned is that teetotalers are more productive, efficient and competent. They stick to deadlines and are good at time management.

Harsh Saxena*, operations head of an event management company in Okhla, which implemented the total abstinence rule six months ago, says, "The results are fabulous. Both efficiency and time management have improved".

Says Sunil Arora*, director of an advertising agency in south Delhi, "Given a choice, I'd any day have a battalion of young people, but they shouldn't be the regular drunkard types." All for the better Debunking the myth that "creative types need to be two pegs down to think up marvelous concepts", Devan Khattar*, art director in a Noida-based ad agency says, "My team members are workaholics and not drinkaholics.

" Sajjan Jindal, chairperson for JSW Steel, says, "I've been following the new policy for some time - teetotalers are ambitious, highly productive and specific about their target." While some of the companies surveyed have already made a change in recruitment policies, other HR departments are keen to make 'no drinking' a cast-iron rule.

And if an employee is found to be downing a peg too many? The decision to fire such employees will in all probability come much later, says Koteshwar Prasad Dobhal, director PR, ASSOCHAM. ASSOCHAM secretary general Dr DS Rawat says, "As far as entry-level recruitment is concerned, lifestyle habits are influencing decision-making." And the teetotalers are winning.

Hindustan Times.