Bharti

Bharti has been adjudged as India's 'second best employer' by Hewitt Associates

Hewitt's 4th annual study of Indian organisations reveals Talent management, high performance work culture and rewards make a best employer.

New Delhi, December 10, 2004 : Hewitt Associates (NYSE:HEW), a global human resources services firm and CNBC TV 18, India's premier business news broadcaster, today announced the Best Employers in India for the year 2004. The study is aimed at understanding the link between people practices and business performance in any organisation.

Conducted by Hewitt Associates globally, the study identifies `Best Employers' based on employee opinions, the organisation's employment and people practices, and the perspective of the organisation's senior leadership. This year, the research has been deepened by monitoring developments not only among the white-collar but also among the blue- collar employees. Along with people practices, the study analyzes trends in human capital management cost, talent movement and leadership alignment.

Another significant change this year has been the addition of three (3) new categories besides the 25 Best Employers: 5 best managed workforces, best people CEO and the most admired HR department. Every year the Best Employers in India have been recording steady increase in the participation. A total of two hundred and seventy two (272) organisations participated in the Best Employers in India 2004 study, making this to be the highest participation in any geographic location. The study has had an increase of 75% participation since its inception.

Mick Bennett, Hewitt's Managing Director, Asia-Pacific operations, said: "The Best Employers inspire and maintain a passion for outstanding achievement. They not only posses sharp focus and clarity but also share it simply and effectively with employees. They are therefore in a better position to ensure continuous knowledge creation. However their focus is on implementing programs effectively. Best Employers are also looking to build sustainability of customer relationships".

The study was open to all organisations in India that have been established for a minimum of three years and have no less than 100 white-collar employees. Participation was across 15 industry groups with an increase in participation from the Public Sector. Data was collected from 75,000 employee responses across industries.

The selection of the Best Employers in India was based on in-depth questionnaires completed by the CEOs, HR departments and employees of participant organisations, followed by an on-site audit. The Best Employers are chosen by an independent judging panel. The judges determined that key factors separating Best Employers from other companies included:

• Best Employers view talent management as an important investment
• Best Employers focus on building a high performance work environment
• Best Employers clearly articulate the elements of their organisation's culture
• Best Employers use rewards as a differentiating tool
• The Best drive leadership behaviors throughout the organisation
• The Best are positioned to build a strong leadership pipeline

Hewitt Associates has conducted Best Employers research in various other countries.

The research recognizes Best Employers across industries and identifies the Best Employers in each country by analyzing leading HR systems and philosophies, and determining how these effectively meet employee needs and drive business results.

Smita Anand, Hewitt's India Head of Consulting, added: "In today's competitive scenario where talent is scarce, Best Employers aims at providing organisational insights into practices that would help them gain advantage through their people practices. This would effectively and positively impact their short and long term business results, leading to sustainable growth".

About Hewitt Associates
With more than 60 years of experience, Hewitt Associates (NYSE: HEW) is the world's foremost provider of human resources outsourcing and consulting services. The firm consults with more than 2,300 companies and administers human resources, payroll and retirement programs on behalf of more than 300 companies to millions of employees and retirees worldwide. Located in 35 countries, Hewitt employs approximately 19,000 associates. For more information, please visit: www.hewittasia.com / www.hewitt.com

About CNBC-TV18:
CNBC-TVI8 (http://www.moneycontrol.com/) is India's leading business television channel. CNBC Asia Pacific holds a strategic equity stake in the Indian registered broadcaster - Television 18. The channel is jointly branded as CNBC-TV18. 25 Best Employers in India

Rank
Name of Company
1. TATA Consultancy Services Limited
2. Bharti Televentures Limited
3. National Thermal Power Corp. Limited
4. Procter & Gamble India Limited
5. Glaxo SmithKline Consumer
6. TATA Motors Limited
7. Satyam Computer Services Limited
8. Intel Technology
9. Indian Oil Corporation Limited
10. Johnson & Johnson Limited
11. Dr. Reddy's Laboratories Limited
12. GAIL India Limited
13. ST Microelectronics India Pvt. Limited
14. Philips India Limited
15. Mindtree Consulting India Pvt. Limited
16. Eureka Forbes Limited
17. Agilent Technologies India Pvt.
18. TATA Steel Limited
19. Biocon
20. Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited
21. EI DuPont India Limited
22. Oracle India Pvt. Limited
23. Birla Sunlife Insurance Limited
24. Wipro Spectramind Services Pvt. Limited
25. Gillette India Limited

5 Best Managed Workforces

Rank
Name of Company
1. Godrej Consumer Products Ltd.
2. IFFCO
3. Parry Confectionery Ltd.
4. The Leela Palace Kempinski
5. Jubilant Organosys Ltd.
Best People CEO

Name of Company - Bharti Televentures Limited

Most Admired HR Department
Name of Company - Procter & Gamble India Limited