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HUSH-HUSH TALES FROM THE STOCK MARKETS, BOARDROOMS AND CORRIDORS OF POWER

Last Updated: May 02, 2025 / 08:00 IST

Counting chapatis in CTC

An applicant for a mid-management role at one of India’s largest conglomerates was presented with a rather curious offer during salary negotiations. The HR rep informed him that the company offers compensation “in cash and kind.”Wait--kind? asked the bemused applicant.The HR calmly explained that the free breakfast and lunch served in the office canteen are factored into the overall cost-to-company (CTC) package.That left the applicant wondering: What happens if he skips a meal? Does his salary take a hit? Apparently, yes—though the HR rep didn’t seem to have a clear answer. Incidentally, this is the same conglomerate that once made headlines when a senior executive urged employees to work on holidays and Sundays.It’s true. There's really no such thing as a free lunch.

Band, baaja, and war room

Competition between startups can get intense, especially in consumer-facing businesses. But what if a rival tries to play spoilsport on the most special day of your life? Just as the founder of a young, aggressive startup was stepping into the wedding mandap, a larger rival decided it was the perfect moment to launch a competing service in the same city. The thinking? What better day to strike than when the entire top leadership would be distracted by band, baaja and baraat? Well, not so fast! The founder quickly assembled a war room at the wedding venue and asked senior leaders to promptly get to work—sherwanis, sarees, et al. When VC money is on the line, even weddings need a contingency plan.

Seeing stars after regulatory heat

There was once a stock market expert who danced on television and into the hearts of many unsuspecting investors. He was a regular on some business channels, dishing out market tips. All seemed well for him until online vigilantes began calling him out for pumping a certain healthcare stock that rose up and then crumbled faster than a cookie. Soon after, the regulator began investigating him for front-running. That was about a year ago. From there, the descent has been swift: His company quickly distanced itself, and news channels stopped inviting him for his stock calls or dances. The music quite literally stopped. Now we hear he gives astrological guidance. However, he does not restrict his expertise to the stock market any more, branching out to relationship and career advice as well. Let’s just say that if his predictions turn out to be anything like that healthcare stock, there may be worse consequences than just a badly performing portfolio.

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