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To illustrate, when an employee is bereaved or suffering from illness, if the employer or some one on his behalf were to go to the house of the employee and offer condolences and also provide some special financial assistance, he is sure to develop respect and a sense of gratitude towards the employer. This humane conduct on the part of the employer strengthens their bonds of affection and makes the employee happy. And is far more valuable than anything else.  

To illustrate, when an employee is bereaved or suffering from illness, if the employer or some one on his behalf were to go to the house of the employee and offer condolences and also provide some special financial assistance, he is sure to develop respect and a sense of gratitude towards the employer. This humane conduct on the part of the employer strengthens their bonds of affection and makes the employee happy. And is far more valuable than anything else.  

There are two important verses in "Sukraniti" which also throw considerable light on the just and fair treatment required to be given to the employees.  

Shukraniti also throws considerable light on just and fair treatment required to be given to the employees. Two important verses regarding the same are enumerated below that emphasize on two important factors namely,

It says, <blockquote>अष्टमांशं परितोष्यं दद्याद्भृत्याय वत्सरे | कार्याष्टमांशं वा दद्यात् कार्यं द्रागधिकं कृतम् ||2.412||<ref name=":0" /></blockquote><blockquote>''aṣṭamāṁśaṁ paritoṣyaṁ dadyādbhr̥tyāya vatsare | kāryāṣṭamāṁśaṁ vā dadyāt kāryaṁ drāgadhikaṁ kr̥tam ||2.412||''</blockquote>Meaning : Every employee should be granted one eighth of his salary as a reward (bonus) annually. If an employee does his work efficiently, he should be granted an extra remuneration equal to one eighth of the piece rate earnings in recognition of his efficiency.

They are:

Furthermore it says,<blockquote>स्वामिकार्ये विनष्टो यस्तत्पुत्रेतद् भृतिं वहेत् | यावत् बालोऽन्यथा पुत्रगुणान् दृष्टा भृतिं वहेत् ||2.413||<ref name=":0" /> </blockquote><blockquote>''svāmikārye vinaṣṭo yastatputretad bhr̥tiṁ vahet | yāvat bālo'nyathā putraguṇān dr̥ṣṭā bhr̥tiṁ vahet ||2.413||''</blockquote>Meaning : If any employee dies before retirement, his son becomes automatically entitled to get the employment of his deceased father. After becoming a major, his wages should be determined according to his qualifications.

1. Extra Annual Payment: <blockquote>अष्टमांशं परितोष्यं दद्याद्भृत्याय वत्सरे | कार्याष्टमांशं वा दद्यातं कार्यं द्रागधिकं कृतम् || (Sukraniti-II-830-831)</blockquote><blockquote>''aṣṭamāṁśaṁ paritoṣyaṁ dadyādbhr̥tyāya vatsare | kāryāṣṭamāṁśaṁ vā dadyātaṁ kāryaṁ drāgadhikaṁ kr̥tam ||''</blockquote>Meaning : Every employee should be granted one eighth of his salary as a reward (bonus) annually. If an employee does his work efficiently, he should be granted an extra remuneration equal to one eighth of the piece rate earnings in recognition of his efficiency.

 

There has been a provision concerning domestic servants, which indicates that employer should ensure humane treatment to the employees.<blockquote>ये नित्या भात्किकास्तेषामनुपरोधेन संविभागो विहित: |काममात्मानं भार्यां पुत्रं कोपरुन्ध्यान्न त्वेव दासकर्मकरम् || </blockquote><blockquote>''ye nityā bhātkikāsteṣāmanuparodhena saṁvibhāgo vihita: | kāmamātmānaṁ bhāryāṁ putraṁ koparundhyānna tveva dāsakarmakaram ||''</blockquote>Meaning : While distributing food to all the guests, if there is any shortage of food, the householder may stint (reduce the share to) himself, his wife and children, but by no means the food due to should be reduced. (Apastamba Smriti - Vide Dharma Kosha -P-816)

2. Preference for the appointment of a deceased employee's son:<blockquote>स्वामीकार्ये विनष्टो यस्तत्पुत्रेतद् भृर्ति वहेत् | यावद्वालोऽन्यथा पुत्रगुणान् दृष्टा भृतिं वहेत् || (Sukraniti-II, 832-833)</blockquote><blockquote>''svāmīkārye vinaṣṭo yastatputretad bhr̥rti vahet | yāvadvālo'nyathā putraguṇān dr̥ṣṭā bhr̥tiṁ vahet ||''</blockquote>Meaning : If any employee dies before retirement, his son becomes automatically entitled to get the employment of his deceased father. After attaining majority his wages should be determined according to his qualifications.

The directive of the verse is that an employer should never make his domestic employee to starve even if it meant shortage of food to himself. The verse exhibits the requirement of being kind to employees. It is obvious that this directive was regarded as essential, for the reason that if there is shortage of food for the owner and/or his wife, they would certainly prepare food and satisfy their hunger. But the employee ;would be helpless. Therefore, the rule provided that food should be reserved for the employee, thereby recognize the human right for food.  

The various provisions on the topic of 'Dharma' regulating the relationship between master and servant and determining their respective duties and rights are remarkable for the humane and pragmatic approach made to the problems of the working class. The advisory passages set out in the opening part of this chapter enjoin the employees to be ;honest and sincere in their service and loyal to their masters. At the same time, they require the masters to pay proper wages, give promotions and other service benefits to the employees. In particular they ask the employers to treat the employees with respect and sympathy. These rules are not only indicative of the importance given to the dignity of individual but also in conformity with the philosophical foundation of the land that all should be happy "'''Sarve Janaha Sukhino Bhavantu'''". Further, the directive to treat everyone as one's ownself ('''Atmavat Sarvabhutanam''') goes to show that the ancient Bharatiya thinkers were fully alive to the necessity of a cordial relationship between the employers and employees, as that alone could ensure proper running of any trade, business or industry which in turn was in the interest would adversely affect the industries, trade or business.

The various provisions on the topic of 'Dharma' regulating the relationship between master and servant and determining their respective duties and rights are remarkable for the humane and pragmatic approach made to the problems of the working class. The advisory passages set out in the opening part of this chapter enjoin the employees to be ;honest and sincere in their service and loyal to their masters. At the same time, they require the masters to pay proper wages, give promotions and other service benefits to the employees. In particular they ask the employers to treat the employees with respect and sympathy. These rules are not only indicative of the importance given to the dignity of individual but also in conformity with the philosophical foundation of the land that all should be happy "'''Sarve Janaha Sukhino Bhavantu'''". Further, the directive to treat everyone as one's ownself ('''Atmavat Sarvabhutanam''') goes to show that the ancient Bharatiya thinkers were fully alive to the necessity of a cordial relationship between the employers and employees, as that alone could ensure proper running of any trade, business or industry which in turn was in the interest would adversely affect the industries, trade or business.

The sense of gratitude which had been regarded as one of the basic rule of "Dharma", was applicable with greater force to the employers and employees. This meant that an employee should have to be grateful to the employer who provided him an employment, with the aid of which the employee not only learnt the job from the employer and acquired expertise, but also earned income. Similarly, an employer was required to have a sense of gratitude towards his employees, who toiled for him. Thus mutual co-operation with a sense of gratitude towards each other was made part of "Dharma" which is of eternal value for the success of any business, trade, industry or undertaking. In the absence of such attitude, both become utterly selfish. The employer would attempt to exploit the employees and the employees instead of being industrious, think of only demanding more wages and prerequisite without any concern for the interest of the employer or the trade, business or industry in which they are employed. Nowadays, it is a matter of common knowledge that in many cases the cause for industrial unrest or dispute is attempt by the employers to exploit workmen taking undue advantage of their helplessness. Similarly, there are also cases in which employees, after securing employment under an employer, and also acquiring experience and/or special training at his cost, either make unjust demands or desert the employer, the moment some other employer offers a little more salary as he is going to get a trained employee. Both such acts are instances of ingratitude and therefore contrary to Dharma.

The sense of gratitude which had been regarded as one of the basic rule of "Dharma", was applicable with greater force to the employers and employees. This meant that an employee should have to be grateful to the employer who provided him an employment, with the aid of which the employee not only learnt the job from the employer and acquired expertise, but also earned income. Similarly, an employer was required to have a sense of gratitude towards his employees, who toiled for him. Thus mutual co-operation with a sense of gratitude towards each other was made part of "Dharma" which is of eternal value for the success of any business, trade, industry or undertaking. In the absence of such attitude, both become utterly selfish. The employer would attempt to exploit the employees and the employees instead of being industrious, think of only demanding more wages and prerequisite without any concern for the interest of the employer or the trade, business or industry in which they are employed. Nowadays, it is a matter of common knowledge that in many cases the cause for industrial unrest or dispute is attempt by the employers to exploit workmen taking undue advantage of their helplessness. Similarly, there are also cases in which employees, after securing employment under an employer, and also acquiring experience and/or special training at his cost, either make unjust demands or desert the employer, the moment some other employer offers a little more salary as he is going to get a trained employee. Both such acts are instances of ingratitude and therefore contrary to Dharma.

== References ==

== References ==

# M. RAMA JOIS, DHARMA - The Global Ethic, Published by "Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan

# M. RAMA JOIS, DHARMA - The Global Ethic, Published by "Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan

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