Case Study: Seva Kendra Kolkata - The Work from Home Dilemma

In March 2019, Seva Kendra Kolkata, a non-governmental organization (NGO), faced a challenging situation. The organization had received multiple emails from its donors demanding project completion reports by March 31st, with the threat of funding being revoked for the next financial year if the reports were delayed. However, due to frequent absenteeism among the project coordinators, the Director, Mr. Franklin Menezes, was concerned about completing the reports on time. At this critical juncture, the employees of Seva Kendra requested the option of working from home, citing various concerns. This case examines the dilemma faced by Seva Kendra in balancing urgent project requirements with the needs and concerns of its employees, exploring issues such as employee engagement, communication gaps, and organizational culture.