Been There, Done That

Covid-19 has reappeared, but organisations are not too concerned. They say they are well-prepared to ensure business continuity

- VIDYA S.

A WELL-OILED REMOTE-WORKING routine that enterprises can transition into whenever required without any disruption to business operations or productivity, a vaccinated workforce, the availability of booster shots, and an overall buoyancy in business sentiment have made India Inc. confident of facing an expected surge in Covid-19 cases in mid-January. “After seeing three waves, as a company and industry, we are all geared up to face any eventuality, to put anything into action even on short notice, in case the government issues any guidelines,” says Adhir Mane, Chief Human Resource Officer (Corporate) of Raymond Ltd. The conglomerate, with a workforce of 20,000 people across verticals, has a template ready for a variety of things—which roles are hybrid, which ones are required at the factory, what circulars and communications have to be sent out, etc. The company has already activated its network of doctors.

The government has warned that the next 40 days will be crucial. However, the new wave, the fourth since March 2020, is likely to be less severe, with fewer deaths and hospitalisations expected this time around. “It’s more wait-and-watch on the WFH guidance and travel policy as of now,” says Rajul Mathur, Consulting Leader, India (Work and Rewards); Strategic Sales Growth Leader, International (Work and Rewards) at Willis Towers Watson, a professional services firm.