Tata Play CEO Slammed for "Renting People" Remark on Workplace Culture

Harit Nagpal, MD and CEO of Tata Play Ltd, recently sparked a social media debate with his controversial statement about hiring practices. In a LinkedIn post, Nagpal discussed the importance of embracing employees' unique beliefs and attitudes, urging companies to "rent people" instead of focusing on building the careers of employees within their organization.

He wrote, “Don’t build careers. Rent people. This isn’t their first job. They won’t retire here.”

Netizens react

Nagpal's opening remark, encouraging companies to "rent people," immediately caught the attention of social media users. While some applauded his fresh perspective on talent acquisition, others were left puzzled by his choice of words. The phrase sparked a mixed response, with many questioning the implications behind the seemingly transactional term.

Also read: ‘Savings Wala Scooter in Every City, Town & Tehsil!’ Ola CEO Announces Record-Breaking 4000 Stores on Christmas (startuppedia.in)

In his post, Nagpal, however, shared the importance of recognizing and respecting employees' diverse backgrounds and experiences. He encouraged employers to shift their mindset away from expecting long-term loyalty and instead focus on creating an environment where individuals can thrive and grow in their own unique ways.

You can read Nagpal's post here.

By urging companies to "rent people," Nagpal challenged the conventional notion of hiring for a long-term commitment. He pointed out the reality that most employees today do not stay with one company for the entirety of their careers, and that organizations need to adapt to this new dynamic.

Nagpal's message ultimately centered around the idea of fostering a culture of continuous learning and growth within the workplace. By allowing employees the freedom to explore their own paths and interests, companies can create a more innovative and dynamic environment that adapts to the ever-changing needs of both employees and the business.

Also read: One Mobikwik Systems Makes Debut with Shares Gaining 11% on 1st Day of Trading (startuppedia.in)

An individual commented on his post, “Your perspective on empowering employees is inspiring, but I respectfully disagree with the “rent people” analogy. While it’s true that employees may not stay with one company forever, treating the relationship as purely transactional undermines the importance of long-term investment in individuals.”

Another wrote, “Good insight. It’s like parents treating their own kids like commodities, calling them expensive to bring up. On similar line Employers now think of their employees not as an asset to capitalise and gain from experience and skill sets but think of them as commodities by renting them to make business out of them and put them on firing line when the quaterly numbers are not in line to market estimates. There is no more loyalty and transparency in this methodology but just treating employees as slaves.”

Also read: Former-Inshorts COO Launches Zing, a 10-Minute Food Delivery App, Backed by Inshorts Founder Azhar Iqubal (startuppedia.in)