High-tech Santa Claus visits Indian IT companies

Companies are playing Santa and spreading the holiday cheer among their staff and communities.

Google employees get to choose between a Nexus 5 phone and a Nexus 7 tablet as a holiday gift this year. "All Googlers on the rolls of the company qualify for the gift. Last year, Google gave Nexus 7 tablets. This year, we are giving the latest version of it, and also giving the option of a phone," said Paroma Roy Chowdhury, head of corporate communications at Google India.

Tech major VMware has given $100 each to every one of its employees to be given to their preferred charity. The employees don't get any money directly, but can redeem it for their charity using a code. Software company Intuit is playing Secret Santa to the Jeevan Jyoti home in Delhi of Missionaries of Charity.

"We are doing a make-a-wish initiative for 73 children who shared their wishes with me when I visited them recently. It was heartwarming to read the wonderful wishes from the children for simple gifts like toys, clothes, books, stationery, cookies, candies, balloons and cakes. Our Gurgaon team will spend a day with the children. Each of us will choose a child and fulfill her wishes. We will place the gifts under a Christmas tree. And, yes, I will dress up as Santa," said Nikhil Arora, MD of Intuit India.

Yahoo held a big year-end party last week that included its over 2,000 employees and their families at the KTPO convention centre in Whitefield. The event, which started at 5 pm and ended with a gala dinner, also had performances by employees, singers Benny Dayal and Shalmali Kholgade, and by the Tarantismo Creative Dance Company.

Santa Claus fever grips corporates

Chennai-based cloud service provider Zoho has gifted windcheaters to its employees. Tech company EMC had cake parties in its Bangalore and Delhi offices and a lunch party at its Mumbai office.

"We decorated our offices. There were fun activities in office, including a dress code of red, white and green, with an award for the best dressed colleague," said EMC India president Rajesh Janey. Google-funded premium cab service Uber has tied up with the NGO Goonj for an on-demand contribution drive across Bangalore.

If you open the Uber app on December 25 and 26 and slide to the UberSleigh vehicle view, you could click on 'Request Pickup'.

"The UberSleigh and our team of elves will land up at your home or office to pick up your donations. We will collect books, clothes, woollens, stationery, sports equipment, old or new; but in good usable condition," said Bhavik Rathod, GM of Uber Bangalore.