Covid-19 crisis: India Inc looks to assuage employee concerns with slew of measures

• Follow

As the country continues to fight the battle against the second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic. Many employers are lending monetary as well as non-monetary support to their employees in these trying times. Companies like Indigo, Bajaj Auto, Big Basket and Oyo are some of the companies that are helping employees tackle the debilitating impact of the pandemic.

Healthcare facilities for employees

IndiGo has announced today to set up a Covid care centre in collaboration with Columbia Asia Hospital in Gurugram. The facility is for those coronavirus-positive employees who may need access to an oxygen bed and medical care. The facility is aimed to support its employees and their families amid the pandemic.

Hospitality firm Oyo also announced that the company will bear the vaccination cost for all its employees and their family members in India. The employees and their family members in India can choose to get the vaccination done at any centre, convenient to them and the costs would be reimbursed in full by the company.

“As part of our commitment to keeping our employees and their families safe and show our gratitude to them, we are happy to facilitate the cost of their COVID-19 vaccinations,” said Oyo Hotels & Homes Chief Human Resources Officer Dinesh Ramamurthi.

Insurance benefits and welfare schemes

Joining the league, Bajaj Auto has announced benevolent schemes to provide unwavering support to their employees in difficult times. The company has announced support to the families of employees who have passed away due to covid-19. Under the company’s welfare policy they will ensure payment of monthly salary up to Rs 2 lakh per month for at least 2 years to these families.

They have also extended medical insurance for 60 months for the dependents of the deceased. The company will also support the deceased employee’s child’s education. It has pledged the assistance of Rs 1 lakh per annum to the child up to 12th standard and Rs 5 lakh per annum per child up till graduation studies (max 2 children).

Oyo has also enhanced the insurance benefit of employees to include a Covid-19 home care cover.

BigBasket has also launched an insurance policy to cover death due to Covid for its blue-collar employees and third-party agency payrolls. The new policy of Rs 5 lakh coverage is in addition to its existing term insurance policy and accident insurance policies of Rs 5 lakh.

Cement and sugar manufacturer Dalmia Bharat is providing unlimited hospitalization coverage to infected staff.

Bonus and incentives

Reliance Industries has announced full variable payout to its over 2 lakh employees for the year 2021.

Another company, Borosil Renewables, the sole domestic manufacturer of solar panel glass, will continue to provide a salary of two years to the family of their employee who has lost his/her life due to Covid-19. They will also pay for the education of the employee’s children.