ASBM University Hosts 14th National HR Symposium: Tackling ‘Quiet Quitting’ with Insightful Leadership

30, Nov 2024 – Bhubaneswar, India – The School of Business, ASBM University organized the 14th National HR Symposium on 30th November 2024, focusing on the vital theme, ‘Quiet Quitting: The New HR Challenge’.

The event was graced by distinguished corporate leaders, including:

• Col (Dr.) Ashwini Kumar Joshi, Director, Ernst & Young LLP (Chief Guest).
• Shri Prakash Chandra Panda, President HR, India Power Corp. Ltd (Guest of Honour).
• Shri Avinash Samal, Head HR Training & Development, TCS, Bhubaneswar (Guest of Honour).

The Chief Guest, Col (Dr.) Ashwini Kumar Joshi, inaugurated the symposium by lighting the ceremonial lamp. In his address, he highlighted the often-overlooked issue of mental health in the workplace, central to the Quiet Quitting phenomenon. Drawing from personal experiences, he emphasized the importance of fostering a mutual connection between employers and employees to meet their respective needs effectively.

Prof. (Dr.) Biswajeet Pattanayak, Honourable Founder and President of ASBM University, presided over the program. In his keynote address, he elaborated on the theme by defining Quiet Quitting as not about physically leaving but about staying disengaged while performing only minimal duties. He presented research studies, discussed causes and concerns, and proposed solutions like passion economy practices, psychological contracts, and learned optimism, along with fostering Organizational Citizenship Behavior.

The Guest of Honour, Shri Avinash Samal, emphasized the need for a value-oriented work culture and empathetic communication to curb Quiet Quitting. He advocated for the principle that “Humanity Resides” as a guiding spirit for HR management.

The Guest of Honour, Shri Prakash Chandra Panda, described Quiet Quitting as a strategic withdrawal and silent rebellion against toxic work environments. He explained its negative impact on businesses and company culture and highlighted a generational divide in its prevalence. His proposed solution focused on ‘Empowering Workplace Ownership’ as the core strategy.

For the inaugural session:

• Dr. Hari Narayan Sahu, Event Coordinator, introduced the eminent guests on the dais.
• Prof. Dr. Ranjan Kumar Bal, Vice-Chancellor of ASBM University, delivered the welcome address.
• Dr. Golakh Kumar Behera proposed the vote of thanks.

The afternoon plenary session was chaired and moderated by Shri Dilip Mohanty, President-HR, Jayaswal Neco Industries Ltd. The panel featured:

• Shri Murali Sahoo, HR Head (Mines), AM/NS India.
• Shri Sanjib Mishra, State HR Head (Odisha), Reliance Industries Ltd.
• Shri Sujit Saran, Zonal HR Head, BFIL.

The panel engaged in a thought-provoking discussion on the theme, offering practical insights and strategies.

The event was attended by:

• Prof. Dr. Kalyan Shankar Ray, Vice-President of the University.
• Prof. Dr. Ranjan Kumar Bal, Vice-Chancellor.
• Prof. Dr. Phalgu Niranjana, Pro-Vice-Chancellor.
• Prof. Dr. Smaraki Pattanayak, Principal Director.
• All the Deans, delegates, professors, faculty members, and students.

The symposium concluded with enlightening insights and actionable takeaways, leaving a lasting impact on all participants.