Perks ke liye kuch bhi karega!

Not just Bollywood, the casting couch exists in the suave confines of the corporate world as well It could be in the form of an SMS, a lewd joke, or a direct proposition. If the casting couch 'syndrome' reportedly rules in Bollywood, then corporate couch too is a fact of life. A largely hush-hush affair, corporate employees are known to happily accept those additional benefits which come in return for personal favours.PaparazZi's purpose Says Lorna Carmicheal of The Sun: "Quite a few times, our journalists go undercover for exclusive stories. Last year, our reporter went undercover to the House of Commons with a camera to expose the artificial equipment scam. We've also exposed a scam in a hospital. Our sting operations concern areas where things are going wrong. But there is a strict code of conduct outlined by the Press Complaints Commission which all newspapers in Britain follow. We can't take cameras into the private lives of celebs or expose their sex lives. We report on sex scandals but we haven't gone to anyone undercover offering sex." Code of conduct The Editor's Codebook (UK), a 104-page paperback aimed at journalists, students and the public, is believed to be the most comprehensive guide of its kind available to press self-regulation systems worldwide. Privacy: Everyone is entitled to respect for his/her private and family life, home, health and correspondence, including digital communication. * It is unacceptable to photograph individuals in private places without their consent. Clandestine devices: The press must not seek to obtain or publish material acquired by using hidden cameras or clandestine listening devices; or by intercepting private or mobile telephone calls, e-mails; or by the unauthorised removal of documents.Perks ke liye: These are additional benefits which tempt you in the form of promotions, better appraisals, foreign trips or even a luxury car. "People from smaller towns tend to give in because their aspirational value is higher and even small favours would tempt them instantly," Mahendra Singh, who works with Apoorva Solutions, a call centre. No gender bias here: If there are women who are forced to make compromises, then there are toy-boys as well. We are not just speaking of female bosses here, but many powerful male bosses are also known to seek such favours. In the advertising world and the hotel industry, where performance is not a very tangible quotient, more such cases exist. "Though I haven't seen it happen in this agency, there is ample evidence that casting couch is present in advertising. And it's not just restricted to girls. The initiative could come from either the employer or the employee," said Abhijit Patel, who works with an ad agency. The 'young' factor: Workplaces like call centres which are thronged by youngsters are a soft target for the casting couch. And the reasons are not hard to find. "Our work hours are erratic and we work on night shifts. The average employee's age is very young and the bosses tend to take advantage of these," said Madhavi Shah, 25, who works with a call centre in Kolkata. What if you say 'no'?: What could be the fallout if one says no to her boss? Anvesha Das (name changed), an insurance agent, who was earlier working with a multi-national bank recalls, "I was propositioned by my boss at a party. I was happy with my job, but I had to resign as I couldn't succumb." She added, "Women, who work as insurance agents, are frequently propositioned by clients. It happens when you are striking a deal and the client asks you to spend the weekend with him in return." Brushing it off: Some corporates argue that unlike the glamour world, it's difficult for the casting couch to exist here. "The process is too transparent for such things. There is greater access to information and the employee has to prove his merit to succeed," said entrepreneur Moitreyee Singh Roy.