Innovation, Adaptation and Adjustments: The New Normal
Even as Covid 19 made its way into India, Glowtronics was ready to cope with the pandemic. Keeping an eye on the international news and market, it had braced itself to face the challenge with least hiccups.
Health and safety of its employees was the foremost priority in the company’s agenda. Glowtronics took a slew of effective measures to sensitise our work-force of the precautions that needed to be taken to remain safe and check the spread of the virus. We put up bold signboards at the factory entrance gates to educate and to create awareness among staffers as well as our guests and service or material providers who were warned not to enter our premises if they had fever, cough, cold etc.
To be doubly sure thermal scanning and hand sanitizer dispensing machines were placed at the entrance.The idea was to create awareness and educate the people working with us on how to face these new workplace challenges brought in by the pandemic.
The nation-wide lockdown was announced when there was a surge in the number of Covid-19 cases. The management took stock of the situation, reviewing the state of preparedness and identifying gaps in the effective implementation of the guidelines circulated by the Union Ministry of Health. We wanted to be doubly sure that all the required safety precautions had been taken. A detailed note of Do’s and Dont’s was circulated among employees who were asked to pass on the”how to remain safe” tips to their family members and friends in their circle. Awareness leads to effective preparedness and motivates people to comply with the norms for safety of all. We are all in this battle together.
Conscious of our status as a renowned and credible medical devices and components manufacturing industry that has to meet exact standards of quality and continue to serve society in difficult times without interruption, we could not suspend our manufacturing during the lockdown period. Since our products are critical to end users for timely diagnosis and prompt treatment, the Karnataka state government appreciated our efforts and allowed us permission to continue operations, under a special essential suppliers’ category.
With required state government permission we continued to maintain our operations with limited manpower at our disposal. Employees residing at a walking distance from the factory premises were able to contribute to maintaining the manufacturing operations in a limited way. The management provided each worker with a copy of the permission from the state government and a letter from the management to certify that the services of the employee were critical to our production process.
Keeping in mind the SOPs (Standard Operating Protocols) for manufacturing sector issued by the government .The top management ensured there was no negligence or laxity at any point in the implementation of the guidelines for the safety and wellness of all our employees. All workers have been provided reusable face masks and their temperature is recorded before their entry & exit the factory. Hand sanitisers have been provided in all departments with staggered breaks for the employees. Mopping and sanitisation work continues and door handles are disinfected frequently.
Furthermore, realising our corporate social responsibility, we paid full salaries to all our employees to ensure they did not suffer on their financial commitments. The management appreciated and rewarded all those employees who came forward to work during the lockdown, with special incentives.
Glowtronics knows that these are challenging times for everyone. We are all in this together and eventually will come out of these trying times triumphantly, only if we work together as a community.
By aligning and taking all precautions as per the guidelines, we fight to keep our employees unaffected by the pandemic.
