In the present scenario, one of the most effective, widespread means of optimizing costs and enhancing productivity is the cross-skilling of the workforce and encouraging them to take on different roles. Organizations, therefore, are now asking their employees to take up additional job roles.

Have you ever experienced this: working as a senior marketing executive but your expertise lies in the software developing? If yes, there are chances to u may be asked by your employer to take the extra effort to contribute to that area of expertise as well. Most organizations these days are now asking their employees to handle additional portfolios thereby getting more work done for a lesser or the same workforce.

Says Lekha Sishta, VP-HR & Talent Management, SumTotal System, “In a performance culture, the role of employees expands beyond fixed boundaries and continues to evolve. To do this, employees need to be re-skilled to take up the challenges. The engaged employee does more and thus organizations can get more work from same workforce. Top performers can be retained by assigning critical jobs and providing them necessary tools to excel and deliver results.

Adding to that, Dr. Yasho V. Verma, director, HR&MS, LG Electronics India says, “Additional responsibilities give a chance to the employees to widen their skill sets, to go beyond their routine profiles; it is in fact a blessing in disguise through which employees can hope to expand their job profiles both horizontally and vertically of the hierarchy ladder.”

The driving need, today, is for business to continue to improve productivity in a global environment where general freeze on hiring continues. It is therefore critical to engage and retain top talent. Additional responsibilities are a key driver/motivation factor for top talent to continue to deliver with enthusiasm and engagement. At 24x7 Learning, if the supervisor or the management entrusts a person with an additional responsibility, they sit across the table and discuss the scope of the role, the duration of the new responsibility and how well it fits into the employee’s KRA and personal career development. “Once we reach an agreement, the person takes on the responsibility. These additional responsibilities are largely entrusted to an employee in a similar or a related role, so this new job only enhances his/her experience,” confirms Karthik K.S, CEO, 24x7 Learning. Whatever the route, experts feel that allocating additional responsibilities to employees results in overall increase in productivity which leads to better profitability.

At the same time, with expansion of their portfolio, employees feel empowered and motivated to work harder.