When I used to read the results of “Best companies to work for” in many business magazines, I used to think that apart from the parameters mentioned in the survey result, there must be one more parameter “Number of Entrepreneurs from that company”.  Here I’ll explain why this parameter must be added.

While talking to few of my friends in my old company I asked them whether they had any plan to change their job or start their own business.  Most of them said that they were very comfortable with the company and never wanted to leave it till their retirement.  One friend told me very frankly, “Viru, I am not extremely happy here.  But what will I say in my next interview if I wish to leave this job.  I really don’t know.  Also I’ve taken so many loans for which I need to pay a major part of my salary.  If I wish to start my own business, who will pay my EMIs every month?”

His answer made me think that some ‘big & famous’ companies mould their employees in such a way that they become ‘unemployable’ in other companies.  Also they never offer ESOPs to their employees to become financially stable (if not rich) to start their own business.  Those companies can easily appear in “Best companies to work for” list as they keep their employees ‘happy’.

In my perception, if you want to call a company as “Best company to work for”, you must also judge it by the number of ‘Entrepreneurs’ it has generated. If this number is more, it means that the company had given enough confidence (both technically & managerially) for their employees and did help them to be financially stable to start their own company.  Which survey will add this parameter?

(Please Note:  I’ve started a website http://exinfoscions.com/entrepreneurs to list the entrepreneurs who worked at Infosys for more than 8 years.  It will be ‘UP’ soon.)