The challenge
CESC needed about 300 employees across its Rajasthan distribution operations moved from an existing manpower vendor to TNSL. They worked at about 22 sites in three cities, and the electricity network could not be disrupted while the change happened.
For the employees, a change of contractor raises real fears. Will my salary drop? Will I lose years of service and my gratuity? Will my records carry over? Will the old problems ever be fixed? A transition that ignored those questions risked unrest across a dispersed, safety-critical workforce.
What TNSL did
Set one rule: no employee loses out. Take-home pay was kept exactly as it was. Past service at CESC’s operations was recognised for agreed benefits, including gratuity, instead of restarting the clock on the transfer date.
Met employees face to face in every city. A senior TNSL leader held open-house sessions in Kota, Bharatpur and Bikaner. Each covered why the change was happening, what would and would not change, how pay, service and gratuity were protected, the new insurance benefits, and how to raise concerns.
Fixed what had been bothering people. In those sessions, TNSL listened to long-standing complaints about uniforms, footwear, benefits and working conditions, and acted on them as part of the transition.
Improved benefits, not just kept them. Family health insurance went from ₹2 lakh to ₹3 lakh, and personal accident cover doubled from ₹5 lakh to ₹10 lakh. Employees also received better uniforms and safety shoes, which matters on electricity distribution work.
Ran the payroll switch site by site. TNSL mapped every employee’s record and location, set up statutory documentation and moved payroll across all 22 sites without disrupting daily work.
Results
- About 300 employees moved to TNSL’s payroll across 22 sites in three cities.
- No loss of take-home pay, and past service recognised for agreed benefits including gratuity.
- 50% higher family health cover (₹2 lakh to ₹3 lakh) and double the accident cover (₹5 lakh to ₹10 lakh).
- Better uniforms and safety footwear for a field workforce.
- Concerns answered in person, through senior-led open houses in every city.
Why it matters
A vendor change is a commercial decision for the company but a personal one for every employee. Protecting pay and service, and visibly improving benefits, kept the workforce’s trust and the operations running.