Human resource valuation

A fundamental dichotomy in accounting practices is between human and non-human capital. As a standard practice, non-human capital is considered as assets and reported in the financial statements, whereas human capital is mostly ignored by accountants. The definition of wealth as a source of income inevitably leads to the recognition of human capital as one of the several forms of wealth such as money, securities and physical capital.

We have used the Lev & Schwartz model to compute the value of human resources. The evaluation is based on the present value of future earnings of employees and on the following assumptions :

    (a) Employee compensation includes all direct and indirect benefits earned both in India and overseas

    (b) The incremental earnings based on group / age have been considered

    (c) The future earnings have been discounted at the cost of capital of 11.21% (previous year 10.60%).

in Rupee Symbolcrore, unless stated otherwise

2011

2010

Employees (no.)

Software professionals

1,23,811

1,06,864

Support

7,009

6,932

Total

1,30,820

1,13,796

Value of human resources

Software professionals

1,22,539

1,06,173

Support

12,566

7,114

Total

1,35,105

1,13,287

Total income(1)

27,501

22,742

Total employee cost(1)

14,856

12,093

Value-added

25,031

20,935

Net profit(1)

6,823

6,219

Ratios

Value of human resources per employee

1.03

1.00

Total income / human resources value (ratio)

0.20

0.20

Employee cost / human resources value (%)

11.0

10.7

Value-added / human resources value (ratio)

0.19

0.18

Return on human resources value (%)

5.1

5.5

(1) As per IFRS (audited) financial statements