
Tata denies ‘lazy managers’ remark, but UK takes note
The Tata Group is livid that remarks made by its chairman Ratan Tata about the need to change British work culture have been “taken out of context” and published a full two months after he made them – and a day after the Tatas announced 1,500 job losses in Britain.
“We wish to make clear The Times claims that Mr Tata said British managers were ‘lazy’ is misrepresentation,” a Tata Sons spokesperson said. “At no stage in the interview did Mr Tata make this comment.”
The comments have created a stir in a country that is trying to overcome the effects of its deepest recession since the 1930s while facing half a million public sector job losses. Some Labour MPs and union bosses have tried to defend the UK record, but criticism of Ratan Tata has been muted, showing there is silent agreement.
The Sunday Times in an editorial titled ‘A message from India: Work harder, or die’, said, “Mr Tata was giving voice to a phenomenon that many in business are well aware of…The country should note Mr Tata’s comments and take action.”
Ratan Tata’s views resonate strongly with Indian businesses. “Here I am sitting on a Sunday, sending work-related emails, but with many of my British colleagues there’s no chance they will check or send official emails or even pick up the phone,” a businesswoman said.

Have no responsibility to audit members of UPI ecosystem: RBI tells SC

Robinhood, Interactive Brokers clamp down on GameStop, other high-flying stocks

Investors see green returns as renewable energy rises

American Airlines lost $8.9 billion in a year of pandemic

Facebook oversight board overrules company on most decisions to remove content

Oil steadies as Covid-19 induced demand worries persist

Apple’s cautious outlook overshadows $111 billion sales haul

India needs bold policy response to secure robust economic recovery, says IMF

WhatsApp adds new biometric security layer for desktop users

Airtel demonstrates live 5G service over commercial network, says service ready

IndiGo posts ₹620 crore net loss in Q3

The spread of Covid-19 led to a surge in orders for factory robots
- The need for automation became apparent outside the auto industry as workforces were hobbled by coronavirus, making it difficult to keep up with demand. Sales rose in some industries as household income that would have been spent on restaurants and entertainment went instead to consumer goods.

Fall in gold prices continues for fifth day

UK opens investigation of Facebook’s purchase of Giphy

Competition Commission dismisses complaint against ICICI Bank
- In its order passed on Wednesday, the regulator said the allegations of abuse of dominance specifically relate to arbitrary increase in interest rate on home loan and increase in tenure of home loan by the bank on the basis of one-sided conditions in the loan agreement.