The Impact of Company Characteristics on Human Resource Disclosure Index: A Study on Service Sector Companies in India

The main purpose of the study is to know the impact of company characteristics on Human Resource Disclosure Index (HRDI) in service sector companies in India. The sample consists of 22 service sector companies listed on the NSE-500 Index. The data of dependent variable are collected from annual reports using the content analysis approach, and the data of independent variables are collected from CMIE Prowess Database and annual reports of the sample companies. The time period of the study ranges from 2012-13 to 2017-18. For analysis, descriptive statistics, Pearson's correlation matrix and One-way Least-Square Dummy Variable (LSDV) regression model are used. The findings of the study show that the mean percentage of HRDI is 34.26. It represents the low level of HR disclosure. Further, the results of the LSDV regression model demonstrate that net fixed assets, market capitalization, return on total assets, quick ratio and pages of an annual report have significant positive and net sales, profit after tax, current ratio and type of auditor have significant negative influence on the HRDI. Overall, it can be said that the HRDI used in the present study is a first step towards evaluating the voluntary HR disclosure practices of listed companies in India from the stakeholder perspective and voluntary disclosure of HR information help to rebuild the trust of stakeholders in an accounting system.