Maruti Suzuki employs psychologists for counselling of their injured employees

Maruti Suzuki, an immensely popular automobile company, has planned to hire psychologists and psychiatrists to counsel their employees, which were injured in the massacre at its Manesar unit. One of the Senior Managers, Awanish Kumar Dev, was burnt alive and over 100 employees of Maruti Suzuki were wounded during the mayhem that occurred at the plant on July 18, 2012.

The incident was followed by a lockout at Manesar plant on July 21 as a precautionary measure and the consequence of the carnage. Since then, the auto maker has not taken any decision regarding the restart of production at its facility. The company is primarily focussing on the safety as well as security of its employees and believes that this endeavour of employing psychologists will provide a better recovery to its injured personnel.

The company said, “The employee welfare team set up last week is quickly assessing individual needs with help of ‘specialists on board' to conduct individual/group therapy sessions for the injured. The counselling sessions kick off this week.”

The enraged workers caused major property damage to the plant as the office wing and the main gate was set on fire by them. The carnage happened on July 18 caused a major blow to the reputation of the country’s largest car maker. Management of Maruti Suzuki believes the incident to be a pre-planned conspiracy by the workers against the company. On this, the Haryana Government ordered the state police to form a special team for immediate investigation of the whole incident.

About the restart of the production in the unit, Maruti said, “The company continues to be concerned about the safety and security of its people, hence (we are) not in a position to take a decision on resuming operations at the Manesar plant. The company will announce its decision to this effect only when it is assured of employee safety.”

The manufacturing at company’s Maneasr plant is at halt, which is augmenting the waiting period of its popular models like Swift hatchback and DZire sedan. The company is contacting its customers who have done advance booking of the cars and explaining them the Manesar plant situation. It said, “The sales executives at dealerships are also being trained to convey the situation to new customers.”