People and Organisations: Principles and Practice in Global Contexts

  Introduction Labour laws form the foundation of fair employment practices and protect employees across all sectors. Sri Lanka has a comprehensive set of labour regulations covering many areas, but an important question persists: Do private companies truly follow these laws, especially when viewed against global standards? How the employer-employee relationship evolved: Foundation of the concept – master and servant relationship: In later England, the work relationship model was based on a master–servant basis. The employer (master) had strong power and control, and the employee (servant) was weak and had very few rights.   Modern changes: Today, employees have many rights and protections. A major reason for global shifting is the International Labour Organization (ILO), a UN agency based in Geneva. ILO promotes equality, healthy relationships between employers and employees, and international labour standards (in Learning, 2025). Where Sri Lanka stand present ·  ...

  Introduction       Sri Lanka’s hospitality and tourism industry endures its stability in 2025. According to the Ceylon Tourist Board, 1.89 million tourist arrivals were recorded up to October 2025 (SLTDA, 2025). Sri Lanka proudly ranked number 9 best travel destination according to the BBC Travel’s inaugural list (Sri Lanka Tourism Alliance, 2025). Additionally, it has been ranked as the No. 1 travel destination for October 2025 by the Global Travel Guide Time Out . The country is praised because of its combination of culture, Bio Diversity, stunning blue beaches, and authentic food culture.   With the rising demand within the industry, the competition automatically continues. Therefore, HR professionals in the industry play a crucial role in implementing strategies that align with the organisational needs since strategies drive guest satisfaction, service excellence, organisational growth and the overall reputation of the organisation. The main chal...

Introduction In the rapid development and expansion of HRIS technology, there are many digital systems and tools, such as analytical systems, employee tracking systems, and employee details tracking systems, being used for HR management globally. HR digitalisation offers efficiency, and it also offers transformation and has led to more attention being paid to data privacy legislation (Vorecol, 2024). Despite the fact that these technologies get better, a critical question may arise: Are businesses in Sri Lanka ready to safeguard their employees’ privacy? Sri Lanka's economic sectors, including manufacturing, IT, banking, apparel, and agriculture, are using digital HR technologies widely these days. These technologies provide data accuracy, minimise human errors and speed up HR processes. But many companies do not consider the most important factor: that is, data  privacy governance . Furthermore, most people don't know what data is collected, how it is stored, or how long it ...

  Sri Lankan Tea Estate Labour: Local Realities Through a Global Agribusiness  HR Lens Introduction Sri Lanka’ tea industry is one of the most recognized agricultural sectors globally. It is a major employer and a key source of foreign exchange, known globally for high-quality Ceylon tea. However, despite the strong recognition and the economic value, tea estate employees remain vulnerable. Their lifestyle, working conditions, and welfare benefits are still undervalued, and the many management systems remain outdated. When it's compared with the worldwide trend in agribusiness workers, it becomes evident that Sri Lanka’s plantation model needs to be updated with strong HR practices and a more ethical, people-centered approach. Knowing both the local and global background is the first step toward changing this important sector.  History The Sri Lankan tea estate labourers are facing an exclusive combination of historical, social, and economic issues.   Most of the w...

Introduction The worldwide COVID-19 pandemic put leadership to the ultimate test, compelling organizations to balance survival with empathy. The pandemic put a stop to industry, rocked the global economy, and put millions of private sector workers in jeopardy. The pandemic revealed whether companies genuinely valued their employees or merely viewed them as expenses.  Some private companies in Sri Lanka, particularly those in the banking and IT industries, rapidly adjusted and provided their employees with sincere assistance. Many others, on the other hand, suffered and turned to layoffs, poor communication, and lesser compensation. Employees became nervous, disengaged, and suspicious of company promises as a result of this lack of empathy. The outbreak revealed the vulnerability of employer-employee relationships and highlighted the gap between policy and practice. It also demonstrated that empathy and moral leadership are essential, rather than optional, for achieving sustained...