BENGALURU:
Mindtree
has started leveraging
social media
to fight L&T’s unsolicited bid to acquire the company. A few hours before L&T informed stock exchanges, some Mindtree employees, including a few senior managers, took to
Twitter with the hashtag
#mindtreematters
. The employee advocacy campaign, though a sidelight, showcased how social media narratives were finding its way even into corporate takeover battles.
One of the employees on Twitter said “…..we are a collection of unique minds that cares about people as much as profit; a
culture
that embodies excellence, not just economics; a state of mind, not a state of flux. Another said, culture and values set us apart and L&T could potentially destroy the fabric of it.
Founders have resisted the L&T takeover bid, arguing cultural incompatibility between the two companies.
Social media has remained a barometer that reflects the mood of employees in times of distress. While the L&T juggernaut appears unstoppable, the digital campaign will open up a new battle front, which the acquirer cannot ignore.
However, HR experts cautioned that employees expressing their disappointment online could be exposing themselves to social media profiling by prospective employers. “While their intentions are upright, it’s fraught with risks in an age when digital footprints of employees are often tracked,” a senior HR executive said.