An unusually generous boss in the western city of Surat has attracted attention across India for lavishing expensive pre-Diwali gifts on staff at his diamond polishing company. Cars, apartments and diamond jewellery are among the unusual loyalty bonuses handed to employees of Hari Krishna Exports by its chairman, Savjibhai Dholakia. Of the 1,268 employees rewarded for loyalty and performance, almost 500 opted for Fiat Punto cars, while 207 went for apartments and 570 employees chose jewellery. Such largesse has taken even generous corporate houses in India by surprise, but diamond industry observers detect canny altruism in Dholakia’s gesture of disbursing nearly 500m rupees (£5m) in this manner. The diamond polishing industry in India has been suffering for a while, so giving away such eye-catching gifts – to be paid for by the company in instalments over the next few years – may help retain talent at a difficult time.
