Selective Reporting? I Don't Think So!

Emma wrote a post about a few thoughtless statements given by Mr. A.S. Murty, Director and Senior Vice-President, Human Resources, Satyam Computer Services. And in her comment section a few people say she is reporting selectively. Here is the link to the The Hindu Business Line Story. He laments that there are not enough senior women managers in Satyam because women have to balance family and career both. Later, quoting from the story, the reporter asks:

So would more women opt to remain single or childless in the future?

Family women a better fit

"This would not be healthy; the examples of many single women at the top is not a proud example I want to quote. Their anxiety, attitude, communication methods, etc, cause concern. Especially in divorced women, we commonly find problems and my experience is not positive. Some of these women are difficult to fit into teams; they can make both insensitive bosses as well as subordinates." Mr Murty believes that at senior levels family women fit in much better. But on the overall issue of women employees, his experience is positive.

"Contrary to popular belief women don't gossip much in office. They complete their task in time and leave. You might find male employees in office till 7 or 8.30 p.m., but their overall productivity is not necessarily better." He adds that to find women leaders Satyam is creating a forum of women leaders "who will themselves tell us what we need to do. We're completely open and flexible on this issue."

The last statements according to the comments left at Emma's blog, make the views of Mr. Murty balanced. I thoroughly disagree. The last quote in my opinion does nothing to wash away the insensitive comments and the huge stereotyping that he did about single women. Since 'his experience' is not positive with divorced women, it is the divorced women who are to be blamed? Of course how could he be accused of having a rigid mindset, after going through his comments. And all divorced women should fall in the category created by Mr. Murty?

I teach HR to college students and I am going to use this article to demonstrate 'what is stereotyping.' Thanks Mr. Murty and Satyam for giving me the material to use in my class and that has an Indian context too.

Update: Abi also writes about it.