Future of Hiring & Inclusion: Insights from Entitled Solutions

In this SMEStreet Exclusive Interview, Anshul Khurana, Co-founder of Entitled Solutions, shares insights on evolving hiring practices, gender equality, MSME adoption of modern HR solutions, and building an inclusive workplace with trust at its core. 

The Evolution of Hiring in India

According to Anshul Khurana, India’s hiring process has become increasingly data-driven and candidate-centric. Technology has reduced recruitment cycles with AI-based screening and virtual assessments. However, the deeper shift is in candidate expectations:

• Salary is no longer the only deciding factor.

• Culture, flexibility, and purpose alignment have become equally important.

For blue-collar and MSME hiring, digital onboarding is enabling faster, more transparent, and efficient recruitment, eliminating paperwork barriers.

Work Culture, Gender Equality & Work-Life Balance

Workplace culture in India is witnessing a shift from awareness to accountability. As Khurana points out:

• Companies are now being judged on tangible outcomes, such as representation in leadership and post-maternity retention.

• Hybrid and flexible models are becoming mainstream, helping caregivers integrate personal and professional lives.

Yet, challenges remain in extending these practices to manufacturing units, logistics hubs, and male-dominated sectors.

MSMEs and Their Journey Towards Advanced Work Environments

MSMEs, often limited in resources, are rapidly adapting plug-and-play digital solutions for payroll, compliance, employee health, and finance. For them, “advanced” doesn’t necessarily mean high-cost tech stacks. Instead, it means:

• Mobile-first tools.

• Simple, fast, and effective solutions.

This quick adoption is driven by competition for talent, even in the blue-collar space, forcing MSMEs to modernize.

Retaining Talent: How Entitled Solutions Keeps Attrition Under 5%

In an industry plagued with high turnover, Entitled Solutions has achieved less than 5% voluntary attrition. Khurana credits this to:

• Leadership’s personal involvement in hiring.

• Aligning individual growth goals with the company mission.

• Investing in employees even during downturns.

“Retention is not an HR metric, but a cultural outcome,” he emphasizes.

Supporting Women in Career Comebacks

At Entitled Solutions, career breaks are normalized, not penalized. The company actively reaches out to women returning from breaks, offering:

• Flexible work hours.

• Structured re-onboarding programs.

• Peer support from colleagues who have gone through similar journeys.

This empathetic approach ensures women feel both professionally confident and personally supported.

Challenges in Building an Inclusive Workplace

The journey to inclusivity was not without challenges. Khurana recalls two major hurdles:

1. Perception: Convincing stakeholders that inclusion is a business strategy, not charity.

2. Infrastructure: Establishing processes and systems that support genuine diversity.

Entitled Solutions overcame these by setting clear, measurable inclusion goals and embedding them into business KPIs — making inclusion a shared responsibility.

Supporting Employees Beyond Policies

Entitled Solutions extends support to employees during life transitions like maternity or relocation. The company provides:

• Flexible work and gradual ramp-ups.

• Remote options when needed.

• Local network assistance during relocations.

Khurana’s advice to startups: “Start with empathy, not paperwork. Inclusion and growth aren’t parallel goals — they’re interdependent.”