Says Cheecoo Networks Ltd. co-founder Neepa Nair, ``The Cheecoo aunt is a friend, confidant and advisor for the employees. The idea is to help the average employee in focusing on the job by helping him or her sort personal issues that might be leading to distraction at work. This is one of the ways in which we make our employees feel wanted and cared for as well.''

Whether it is unpaid electricity bills, a gift for the mother-in-law's birthday, locating a creche for toddlers, employees at Cheecoo.com can count on the Cheecoo aunt to bail them out. Even for the more stickier situations like dealing with a divorce or break-up, the Cheecoo aunt is there lending a sound ear and trusting shoulder to cry on.

Employing an `agony aunt' is one of the ways in which the company ensures that the organisation culture remains true to its off-beat business proposition and company name. Launched in April this year, Cheecoo offers free Internet access through its proprietary communications device, the Cheecoobar. In that the company is different from the other Internet service providers, it merely provides a choice of ISPs to Internet users.

Says Nair, ``We have been very clear about our desire to make the organisation, youthful, vibrant and fun place to work with.'' A sample of the few funny and at times whacky ways in which this has been achieved is: Nair's designation like that of the company's other two co- promoters reads: Cheecoo Sheik marketing.

Where finding `fun' designations for the promoters was not very difficult, the key challenge in implementing the concept of the Cheecoo aunt, was faced in locating the right candidate to fit the job, confesses Nair. ``I had been trying to locate a balanced and open person, with the right experience, who could make people comfortable.'' Nair's search ended with 40-year-old Preeti Selvaraj, an affable mother of two.

Says Selvaraj who has little qualms about being typecast in the `aunty' mould by her colleagues, ``the concept is fairly unique and interesting. I have never done something like this. It has been fun being Cheecoo aunty so far.'' Employees from across the 40 odd team have approached her for assistance on issues ranging from purchasing movie tickets for the entire family, changing name and in one case, even help in locating a suitable bride!.

``Where chores like purchasing tickets, and bill payment etc., are not difficult to handle-I have office boys working exclusively for me for that purpose. It is the personal issues which are tricky. It becomes difficult to commit oneself to crucial tasks like finding a bride etc.,'' says Selvaraj with a smile.

The employees fairly amused by the novelty of their colleague, the Cheecoo aunt, for one are not complaining, says a Software engineer at Cheecoo Networks, ``Somebody who can take care of small chores-both personal and professional is always welcome. Over and above this, Preeti our Cheecoo aunty is very approachable and a helpful person.''

Even as Nair does not believe that the practice will foster undue dependency in its employees, she admits that there may arise a need to draw a line while handling extremely personal issues.

Further the industry sees unusual HR practices such as these with skepticism. Until such time that the functions of the `aunt' can be defined and linked to the productivity of employees, sustaining the practice might not prove to be a long lasting proposition, feel HR professionals in the industry.