NEW DELHI: Supplementing Vitamin C to meal to strengthen the immune system of employees, closing cafeterias and arranging packed meals to implement social distancing, placing ambulances at workplaces, setting up isolation rooms and installing infra-red (IR) Thermal machines are some of the best business practices companies in India are following to combat COVID -19 outbreak.
Even though more than 100 cities across India are under lockdown while many towns have been put under statutory curfew, some of the companies in the pharmaceutical, FMCG, other essential commodities sector with global operations are functioning with the minimal number of employees to ensure ‘The Show Must Go On”. Majority of the workforce is operating from homes while production facilities of major auto players like Maruti Suzuki, Hyundai, Honda, and others remain suspended.
However, these companies are equally committed to the safety concerns of their employees too and have adopted various measures and good business practices to safeguard them from the outbreak of COVID-19.
The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) has highlighted good practices of some companies in its newsletters.
“More companies of national and foreign origin operating in India can share the measures and best practices they are following to check further spread of coronavirus and to protect their employees with us at rajiv.kumar@cii.in for further publication the same in CII newsletter,” said Rajiv Kumar, Manager, International Division, CII.
Cadila Pharmaceuticals Limited has created a Helpline for its employees for any COVID – 19 related support. Besides replacing all face to face meetings by Video Conferences, the company has implemented a Sanitization schedule in its premises and the employees are being trained about the precautionary measures via posters, mailers, and open space meetings.
Patton Group in addition to organizing several awareness programs in batches of 10 for the entire workforce to outline DOs and DONTs, has given food utmost importance and is adhering to strict food serving protocol and it is also adding vitamin C to all meals. Employee’s personal hygiene is being taken care of all its locations.
Besides curtailing all domestic and international travels, it has replaced all in-person internal meetings with video calls and video conferencing using Zoom, Google Hangouts, WhatsApp call.
Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) that has issued detailed guidelines to the employees emphasizing work from home on a rotational basis and maintaining social distancing, has also suspended its canteen facility and arranged packed meals. The employees have also been exempted from marking biometric attendance.
Matrix Integrated Services has set up a dedicated helpdesk and an ambulance which has been placed strategically in case of any emergency. The company has made provision of isolation room per campus. Special treatments like Virexll 256, Virex 0.4% are being used as disinfectants. Disposable hand gloves, sanitizers, full suits and I R thermometers are in place at most of the locations.
Hyundai Motor India Limited (HMIL) that has resorted to suspension of its manufacturing operation at the Chennai facility, the company has undertaken various initiatives aimed at promoting safety and welfare of all stakeholders under Hyundai Care Program, like 24×7 roadside assistance to customers in case of emergency, 1000 doorstep advantage bikes/ emergency road service cars to provide any assistance and extended support of 2 months to the customers who are unable to avail vehicle warranty/ extended warranty/ free services due to health emergency or dealership shutdown.
Mindspace Business Parks has issued a detailed guide on the coronavirus outbreak including protective measures to be undertaken. The guide includes a list of laboratories and Mindspace 24×7 helpdesk contact details.
Eaton Power Quality Private Limited has effect intensified cleaning and disinfestation of areas such as canteen, crèches, vehicles and has stocked essential items such as surgical masks, gloves, and housekeeping goods. The company has advised employees reporting to America and Europe to work from home. Non-Contactable IR Thermal screening is being used and the use of biometric is suspended.
GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceuticals Limited (GSK) has advised work from home and implementation of staggered working hours. GSK has also issued an advisory on travel, mass gathering/meetings and maintaining personal hygiene. There is a detailed process flow for phone calls issued to the employees.
Some Best Practices by SME’s such as Basant Fabricators include several preventive measures to deal with COVID – 19 including installation of hand sanitizers at entry points, sanitization of drinking water place and toilets twice, vendors being asked to work on the conference call and people above 60 years are advised to stay at home.
The Coca Cola Company is prioritizing safety in production and distribution facilities by implementing additional cleaning and sanitization routines, split shifts to avoid shift – to – shift contact, focusing on high-touch surfaces, and have taken steps to restrict visitors to the facilities.
Avaada Group AVAADA group has closed down its major offices allowing its employees to work from home and all its premises have been sanitized and disinfected. Thermax Limited has ceased all foreign travel and has introduced a 24×7 HR Assistance mobile number to address any queries or assistance pertaining to the Coronavirus situation.
MyBox Technologies Private Limited The company has advised employees to avoid public transport, meetings involving more than 5 people to use the digital platforms, minimize printing of documents to avoid touching the exposed surface, use of sanitizers and gargle every 2 hours.
Pinnacle Industries Limited The company is working 24×7 to assess the potential gaps between demand and supply of various medical equipment and consumables including masks, sanitizers, ventilators and Personal Protective Equipment for healthcare workers. A group has been created comprising of all the leading hospitals in Pune and a complete assessment has been done to map their requirements. The company is also proactively working on the development of ventilators.
Torsa Machines Limited has taken various measures for safety and good health. The company has advised employees to work from home to maintain social distancing.
