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  • Microsoft, Amazon Talent Eye Flipkart & Zoho Amid Culture Concerns

    May, 12 : Nearly half (48%) of Indian professionals say they would actively look at or seriously consider joining an Indian homegrown company if laid off tomorrow, yet 47% cite toxic workplace culture as their top concern, more than twice as high as higher than pay gap concerns (18%), according to the latest survey of 1,205 Indian professionals by Blind, the anonymous community app for professionals. 

    Quality-of-life concerns dominate economic ones. 47% fear toxic culture and an additional 18% worry about losing work-life balance, meaning 65% prioritize workplace environment over the 18% who cite pay gaps as their biggest concern. This suggests workplace culture, not compensation, is the primary barrier for India’s homegrown sector.

    When asked which Indian homegrown company they would join, Flipkart leads at 20% among all respondents, followed by Zomato and Swiggy at 14%, Zoho at 10%, Paytm and PhonePe at 7%, and Freshworks at 6%. Traditional IT services giants TCS, Infosys, and HCL collectively received just 3% despite being India’s largest tech employers. 40% selected “none of the above,” suggesting that the companies capable of meeting their workplace expectations either don’t exist yet or haven’t built the reputations needed to compete with global employers. 

    The cultural concerns are not unfounded. On Blind, where verified employees can anonymously review their employers and access other companies’ reviews, even top-choice companies face scrutiny. One Flipkart employee wrote, “You will feel at home if you have no life outside of work,” while a Zoho employee cited “No WFH. No overtime benefits. Weekends have to be sacrificed for work. Poor work life balance.” A prior Blind survey found that 83% of Indian IT professionals experience burnout, with 25% working 70+ hours weekly.

    Despite these workplace challenges, interest in Indian homegrown firms comes primarily from employees at global tech giants, with Microsoft (7.6%), Amazon (6.8%), Oracle (4.1%), and Google (3.2%) leading the list of respondents open to joining Indian companies. Blind’s internal AI, which analyzes employee sentiment, search behavior, and engagement patterns across companies, backs this up. Between February 2025 and May 2026, Flipkart, PhonePe, and Infosys ranked as the top three most searched Indian homegrown companies at both Microsoft and Amazon. If Indian firms can address workplace culture problems, they could attract top-tier employees working at the world’s leading tech companies.

    Professionals are vocal about the need for change. In a Blind post discussing toxic tech culture in India, a verified Microsoft employee wrote, “We need to find a way to pivot mindset and boost mental health.” The opportunity is clear: Big Tech employees are watching, and the next Indian unicorn could be built by talent already willing to return, if homegrown firms can prove they’ve adopted Silicon Valley’s best practices rather than its worst habits.

    Methodology

    Blind surveyed 1,205 India-based professionals between April 27–May 6, 2026, on their willingness to join Indian homegrown companies. Response breakdowns by question are as follows:

    • If you were laid off from your current role tomorrow, how likely would you be to join an Indian homegrown company?

      • Actively looking at them already (13%)

      • Would seriously consider it (35%)

      • Only as a last resort (34%)

      • Not a chance (18%)

    • Which Indian homegrown company would you join?

    • Flipkart (20%)

    • Zomato / Swiggy (14%)

    • Zoho (10%)

    • Paytm / PhonePe (7%)

    • Freshworks (6%)

    • TCS / Infosys / HCL (3%)

    • None of the above(40%)

    • What’s your biggest hesitation, if any?

    • Toxic culture (47%)

    • Pay gap (18%)

    • Work-life balance concerns (18%)

    • No hesitation (7%)

    • Job security or layoff risk (6%)

    • Career growth ceiling (4%)

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  • Epson named CitySwitch Champion for third consecutive year

    Recognising ongoing commitment to sustainability and carbon management

     SYDNEY, May 12– Epson Australia has been recognised as a CitySwitch Champion for the third consecutive year, affirming the company’s long-term commitment to sustainability leadership, carbon management and practical climate action across its Australian operations.

     

    Epson named CitySwitch Champion for third consecutive year

     (l-r) Epson Australia’s environment and sustainability manager Fatida Un and North Sydney Mayor Zoë Baker

    The CitySwitch Awards celebrate businesses demonstrating genuine progress in areas such as emissions tracking, waste reduction, sustainable procurement and staff engagement.

    Epson was formally honoured at the North Sydney Council Champion Lunch with the award presented by North Sydney Mayor Zoë Baker.

    This achievement reflects Epson’s sustained commitment to transparency, data-driven carbon reduction and continuous environmental improvement.

    CitySwitch is Australia’s flagship decarbonisation program for businesses. Run by council partners and NABERS, the initiative supports office-based organisations to measure, manage and reduce their carbon footprint on the path to net zero emissions.

    Since joining CitySwitch as a signatory in 2023, Epson has reported annually on energy use, emissions and waste across its five Australian workplaces and built a robust foundation for long-term carbon management.

    Key achievements to date include:

    • Transitioning all Australia and New Zealand offices to 100% renewable electricity

    • Reducing landfill waste at its primary warehouse facility by more than half compared with FY2023 levels

    • Shifting inbound freight from road to rail, cutting logistics-related emissions

    • Developing a full Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions framework, aligning local goals with Epson’s global science-based targets

    • Enhancing energy efficiency at its Sydney head office, reducing overall electricity use

    • Improving recycling processes across its Sydney offices and the recyclability of consumer product packaging 

    While continued emissions reduction remains a priority, Epson is equally focused on building robust systems, data quality and organisational capability to support meaningful, long-term progress.

    Craig Heckenberg, Managing Director, Epson Australia and New Zealand said, “Being recognised for a third time as a CitySwitch Champion is a valued acknowledgement of the commitment and hard work of our teams across Australia. It reinforces our approach of connecting sustainability to everyday decisions from how we source electricity and manage waste, to how we design systems and ship products. Every improvement brings us closer to a low-carbon future.”

    The annual CitySwitch Champions Forum also brings together participants to share practical insights into carbon management. This year, Epson presented on building a practical approach to carbon tracking, drawing from its own journey of “progress over perfection”. This includes:

        • Starting with the data already available

        • Focusing on key emissions hotspots

        • Connecting reduction efforts directly to business priorities

        • Maintaining steady momentum through collaboration and knowledge sharing

    By applying this pragmatic approach, Epson continues to strengthen its operational sustainability while supporting the company’s broader global target of achieving carbon negativity and underground resource-free status by 2050.

    Epson’s recognition as a three-time CitySwitch Champion demonstrates its leadership as an innovation-driven manufacturer that embeds sustainability into products and operations alike.

    Through collaborations like CitySwitch, the company continues its commitment to act decisively on its decarbonisation journey.

    Learn more about sustainability at Epson Australia here: https://www.epson.com.au/about/sustainability/

     Founded in 2005, CitySwitch initially focused on office energy efficiency before expanding to help businesses integrate broader sustainability practices — including waste reduction, green procurement and Scope 3 emissions management.

  • Kafka Media Group Wins 2026 Communicator Award for Soft-Analytics®

    The boutique marketing firm is recognized for its trademarked approach to interpreting marketing and communications impact through human-centered analysis

     

    ORLANDO, FL (May 12) – Kafka Media Group, an integrated marketing firm, has been named a winner in the 32nd Annual Communicator Awards for its proprietary Soft-Analytics® methodology, recognizing the agency’s innovation in modern communications strategy and marketing intelligence.

    Presented by the Academy of Interactive & Visual Arts, the Communicator Awards honor excellence and innovation across the communications industry, with thousands of entries submitted annually by agencies, organizations, and brands worldwide.

    Soft-Analytics® is Kafka Media Group’s trademarked methodology that combines traditional performance metrics with human insight, strategic interpretation, and contextual analysis to help clients better understand the true impact of their marketing and communications efforts.

    “Soft-Analytics® was built around a simple idea: data alone cannot tell the full story,” said Pierce Kafka, CEO & Creative Director of Kafka Media Group. “In a communications landscape increasingly shaped by automation and AI-generated content, interpretation, strategy, and context matter more than ever. This recognition validates the importance of understanding not just what happened in a campaign, but why it mattered.”

    Unlike traditional reporting that focuses solely on impressions or mentions, Soft-Analytics® evaluates the context, sentiment, momentum, and strategic value behind media coverage and audience engagement.

    Kafka Media Group officially trademarked Soft-Analytics® in 2025 as part of its broader effort to redefine how communications impact is evaluated and interpreted. The methodology has been applied across its integrated marketing and publicity campaigns, helping clients translate visibility into actionable strategic growth.

    “This recognition reinforces what we believe the industry is moving toward: smarter measurement, stronger storytelling, and more strategic interpretation of what drives real influence,” Kafka added.

     

  • CBSE Class 12 Result 2026 Likely Today; Students Await Official Announcement !

    New Delhi, May 12 (BNP): The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) is expected to announce the Class 12 Board Examination Results 2026 today, creating huge anticipation among lakhs of students and parents across the country. Although the board has not officially confirmed the exact date and time, a recent post by DigiLocker indicating “CBSE Class XII Results 2026 Coming Soon on DigiLocker” has strengthened speculation about today’s declaration.

    As per reports, CBSE will not hold any press conference for the result announcement this year. Instead, students will be able to access their results online through multiple official platforms including cbse.gov.in, results.cbse.nic.in, cbseresults.nic.in, DigiLocker, UMANG app, and SMS services.

    The CBSE Class 12 examinations were conducted from February 17 to April 10, 2026, in a single shift from 10:30 AM to 1:30 PM across India and at overseas examination centres.

    Students are advised to keep their admit cards ready to avoid last-minute inconvenience while checking scores. Candidates can log in using their roll number, school number, admit card ID, and date of birth.

    Students who have not yet activated their DigiLocker accounts can do so by visiting the DigiLocker portal, selecting “Get Started,” entering the access code provided by their respective schools, and verifying their mobile number through OTP authentication.

    With no official result tab activated yet on cbseresults.nic.in, students continue to refresh official websites eagerly as the expected announcement window approaches.

     
     

  • Palomar Medical Center Poway Earns an ‘A’ Hospital Safety Grade from The Leapfrog Group

    Spring 2026 Safety Grade is a national recognition for commitment to patient safety    

    ESCONDIDO, CA — May 12, 2026 — Palomar Medical Center Poway earned an “A” Hospital Safety Grade from The Leapfrog Group, an independent national nonprofit watchdog focused on patient safety. Leapfrog assigns an “A,” “B,” “C,” “D” or “F” grade to general hospitals across the country using evidence-based measures of patient safety focused exclusively on errors, accidents, injuries and infections.    

    “This recognition from The Leapfrog Group underscores the exceptional standard of care our team delivers and affirms our unwavering commitment to patient safety,” said Diane Hansen, President and CEO of Palomar Health. “As we continue to thoughtfully reimagine the healthcare experience, innovation and the well-being of our patients will always be at the heart of everything we do.”   

    “An ‘A’ Grade is a strong sign that Palomar Medical Center Poway is deeply committed to protecting patients from harm,” said Leah Binder, president and CEO of The Leapfrog Group. “We commend the leadership, board, clinicians, staff and volunteers for the role each played in this distinction.”      

    The Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade stands as the only hospital ratings program focused solely on preventable medical errors, infections and injuries that kill more than 500 patients a day in the United States. This program is peer-reviewed, fully transparent and free to the public. Grades are updated twice annually, in the fall and spring. 

  • Beyond Acute-Phase Support: How “Ibasho” Aids Disaster Mental Health Recovery

    Authors propose that rebuilding community, routine, and social roles is essential for long-term recovery after disasters

    Beyond Acute-Phase Support: How “Ibasho” Aids Disaster Mental Health Recovery

    As disasters increasingly disrupt lives through displacement, conflict, and climate-related emergencies, addressing long-term mental health recovery remains a major challenge. A correspondence from Juntendo University discusses that, while acute symptom assessment remains important, disaster psychiatry may benefit from a community-led approach to care. The authors discuss the importance of ibasho (community spaces of belonging and social purpose) and suggest that rebuilding routines, roles, and neighborhood connections may support long-term recovery and resilience. 

    Natural disasters drastically affect human lives—destroying homes, separating families, leading to disruption of daily routines, which affects their stability. While emergency mental health responses are crucial in the beginning of the crisis, new correspondence discusses that psychological recovery may rely on a more meaningful approach to help restore a sense of place and belonging.

    Ibasho: A Community-led Place for Belonging and Meaning

    In this context, authors from Juntendo University, Japan, led by Associate Professor Hidetaka Tamune from the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, along with Dr. Yutaka Igarashi from Nippon Medical School, Japan, and Dr. Yuzuru Kawashima from the Disaster Psychiatric Assistance Team, Japan, discussed the approach of ibasho (a community-building concept in Japan) for people affected by disasters. The details were made available online on April 3, 2026, and published in Volume 407, Issue 10537 of The Lancet journal on April 11, 2026.

    Dr. Tamune says, “Disaster recovery is not only about reducing acute psychiatric symptoms. It is also about restoring the social environments that give people stability, dignity, and a sense of purpose. In Japanese, the places that make this possible are called ibasho.”

    Ibasho means a place of belonging where people are engaged in social networks, routines, and meaningful roles. The authors suggested that restoring this sense of connection among people affected by disasters may be just as important as detecting early symptoms, as it plays a vital role in supporting community recovery. Supporting this, the correspondence places ibasho within the internationally recognized Sphere humanitarian framework, which focuses on survival with dignity, continuity with care, and coordinated support systems during crises. It also suggests that ibasho aligns closely with those principles by offering social infrastructure for displaced and affected communities.

    Ibasho in Japan: Community-Led Recovery in Practice 

    Compared to conventional interventions, ibasho refers to safe, community-led spaces where individuals can reconnect with others and resume daily routines. This may include neighborhood gathering spaces, shared community programs, and locally led recovery hubs. To support this perspective, the authors cited the evidence from disaster-affected regions in Japan. These include examples from the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and the Fukushima nuclear accident. Notably, there was an increase in the dementia consultations and behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) among older adults near the evacuation zones of the affected areas. In contrast, the communities where older residents were helped by leading ibasho-style programs reported stronger recovery and more stable routines with improved social and family relationships. This suggests that recovery improved when people were able to regain meaningful roles in community life. The older adults not only receive support but are also actively contributing to the recovery efforts and rebuilding community life.

    “What appears to be most important is not simply access to services, but whether people can reclaim their place within the community and continue to feel valued, useful, and connected.　In Japan, a disaster-prone and super-aged society, we have both the experience and the responsibility to share what we have learned about caring for older adults with dementia, especially those who develop BPSD and delirium,” explains Dr. Tamune.

    Redefining Recovery Through Connection, Culture, and Dignity

    Although particularly relevant to natural disasters, the correspondence suggests that preparedness and recovery both depend not only on services but also on whether people can remain connected to local networks, routines, and meaningful social roles. The authors further note that trauma-informed support should remain culturally congruent; in some communities, restoring routines, roles, and communal life through ibasho may be the most acceptable first step.

    Overall, the correspondence highlights the importance of ibasho in post-disaster mental health. It suggests that, although acute symptom detection matters, recovery also depends on whether people can continue to live safely, sustain relationships, and regain meaningful roles after displacement. In this sense, ibasho may function as a culturally congruent local social infrastructure through which dignity, continuity, and safety are restored in everyday life.

  • Ualett Launches “Ualett Rewards” to Give Back to Gig Workers

    WILMINGTON, Del. —May 11, 2026 — Ualett, the leading financial technology platform serving gig workers, announced the launch of Ualett Rewards, a new loyalty program designed to recognize and reward clients for their engagement and financial activity.

    With Ualett Rewards, clients can turn everyday interactions into real financial benefits through GigPoints, redeemable for remittance savings and digital rewards. The program deepens Ualett’s commitment to helping independent workers build more flexible, resilient financial lives while making the in-app experience more engaging and valuable over time.

    “Gig workers are constantly balancing tight schedules, rising costs, and unpredictable income,” said Ricky Michel Presbot, Co-Founder and CEO of Ualett. “Ualett Rewards is our way of saying thank you to the workers who trust us every day. By turning routine actions into meaningful rewards, we’re helping clients get more value from every interaction with Ualett.”

    Ualett Rewards will officially launch today, and all eligible clients can access the program directly through the Ualett app.

    How Ualett Rewards Works

    Through Ualett Rewards, clients earn GigPoints for simple, everyday actions in the app, including:

    • Client referrals: Points are awarded when a referred user successfully enrolls.

    • In-app gaming experiences: Points can be earned by participating in interactive features and experiences within the Ualett app.

    Accumulated GigPoints are tracked over time and can be redeemed for tangible benefits, such as:

    • Savings on remittances, helping clients keep more of what they earn on eligible transactions.

    • Eligible digital rewards, including select gift cards and other digital benefits.

    As Ualett scales its platform, the company is focused on ensuring that its most engaged clients share directly in the value they help create. Ualett Rewards is designed to feel intuitive and fair: clients earn points for the actions they’re already taking and can clearly see how those points convert into real, usable financial benefits over time.

    By integrating rewards into everyday app interactions, Ualett is strengthening its role as a long-term financial ally for gig workers—providing not just access to fast, flexible capital, but also ongoing incentives that support smarter financial decisions and deeper engagement.

  • COMAU and OMRON Robotics Partner to Advance Industrial Automation Worldwide

    Turin, Italy and Pleasanton, California, USA – May 11, 2026 – COMAU and OMRON Robotics (Omron) have entered into a strategic collaboration agreement to accelerate the global adoption of advanced industrial automation solutions. The partnership will focus on fast-growing industries including electronics, semiconductors, medical manufacturing, and light industrial intralogistics, where demand continues to rise for flexible and easily deployable automation technologies.

    The collaboration is designed to address increasing customer demand for scalable, adaptable automation systems that integrate efficiently with both existing production lines and next-generation manufacturing environments. By combining their complementary technologies, product portfolios, and industry expertise, COMAU and Omron aim to expand access to advanced automation solutions for manufacturers worldwide.

    The companies also see the agreement as a foundation for future joint initiatives. By integrating robotics hardware, intelligent control systems, and software-driven automation, the partnership aims to help manufacturers improve operational efficiency, increase flexibility, and enhance overall production performance across a wide range of industrial applications.

    “This initiative reflects our strategy to strengthen Comau’s solution portfolio through high-value partnerships,” said Pietro Gorlier, CEO of COMAU. “Omron is a strong strategic fit because we share a common vision centered on innovation and customer value. By combining Comau’s robotics expertise with Omron’s advanced technologies and software capabilities, we can deliver automation solutions that are easier to implement, highly adaptable, and ready to support future manufacturing needs. This collaboration also reinforces our position in high-growth industries and emerging markets, helping customers manage increasing industrial complexity with safe, reliable, and scalable automation.”

    “By bringing together two highly complementary portfolios, this collaboration creates new opportunities for manufacturers seeking greater agility and efficiency,” said Olivier Welker, CEO of OMRON Robotics. “Combining our strengths in robotics, intelligent automation, advanced control, and application expertise will help customers respond more quickly to evolving market requirements. Together, we aim to deliver flexible, connected, and sustainable production systems that support long-term growth.”

  • Chinmaya Mission Hosts One of the Largest Global Online Bhagavad Gita Chanting Initiative

    India, May 11 : As part of the ongoing Chinmaya Amrit Mahotsav celebrations commemorating 75 years of the Chinmaya Movement, Chinmaya Mission conducted Chinmaya Gita Samarpanam, a global online chanting of Chapter 15 of the Bhagavad Gita, Purushottama Yoga, on May 9, 2026, at 7:30 PM IST.

    Inspired by the vision of Pujya Gurudev Swami Chinmayananda, who dedicated his life to making the wisdom of the Holy Gita accessible and relevant to the masses, the initiative was conceived as a collective offering of devotion, reflection, and spiritual unity.

    As part of this global effort, Chinmaya Mission is submitting the event for consideration towards a Guinness World Records title for the largest number of people chanting online simultaneously. The recordings from the various online sessions are currently being compiled and will be shared with the Guinness World Records adjudicators for verification. Official results are expected within the next few weeks.

    The event brought together more than 35,000 participants from over 70 countries in a shared spiritual experience. One of the most remarkable aspects of the initiative was the extraordinary spirit of collaboration that powered the event. Nearly 1,000 volunteers from different countries were trained over several weeks to host and manage the virtual meetings, guide participants, and record the sessions as part of the Guinness World Records documentation requirements.

    Hosted virtually through Cisco Webex, the technology partner for the event, Chinmaya Gita Samarpanam saw participation from devotees, spiritual seekers, families, students, and communities from multiple countries reflecting the growing global resonance of the Bhagavad Gita’s teachings and universal message. Furthermore, the collective chanting of Chapter 15, Purushottama Yoga, held deep spiritual significance, guiding seekers towards understanding the Supreme Self and the highest purpose of human existence.

    Speaking about the initiative, Pujya Swami Swaroopananda, Global Head, Chinmaya Mission said

    “Chinmaya Gita Samarpanam was envisioned as a collective spiritual offering that transcended geographical boundaries and united participants through the wisdom of the Bhagavad Gita. When thousands chant together with one heart and one intention, it becomes a powerful prayer for the welfare of the entire world – Lokah Samasthah Sukhino Bhavantu (May all beings everywhere be happy). As Chinmaya Mission celebrates 75 years, this initiative reflected our continued commitment to spreading Vedantic knowledge and inspiring individuals to integrate the teachings of the Gita in their everyday lives. The overwhelming global participation made this a truly historic and memorable occasion.”

    The initiative also witnessed participation and support from various Sanatana Dharma organisations and spiritual communities worldwide, further strengthening the spirit of cultural connection and spiritual harmony.

    The event formed a key part of Chinmaya Amrit Mahotsav, the year-long global commemoration celebrating 75 years of Chinmaya Mission’s contributions in the fields of spirituality, education, culture, and community service.

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  • Tamil Nadu CM Vijay Meets MK Stalin, Udhayanidhi After Swearing-In

    Chennai, May 11 (BNP): A day after taking oath as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, C. Joseph Vijay met former Chief Minister M. K. Stalin and DMK leader Udhayanidhi Stalin at Stalin’s residence in Chennai on Monday.

    Tamil Nadu CM Vijay Meets MK Stalin, Udhayanidhi After Swearing-In

    The meeting, described as a courtesy call, marked the first interaction between the leaders after the recently concluded Assembly elections and Vijay’s swearing-in ceremony. Visuals from the meeting showed the leaders exchanging warm greetings and holding discussions on the state’s political developments.

    According to reports, Stalin congratulated Vijay on assuming office and extended his best wishes for the new government. The meeting is being seen as a significant political gesture amid the changing political landscape in Tamil Nadu.