The circuit breaker will end and three phases will follow after, with the first stage already in practice since June 1. If the situations are favorable, the second phase will start soon (i.e., at least 28 days after the first phase).
Well, in regular operations or not, firms need to put a lot of focus on their employees. During the time of the pandemic, it is only natural for companies to be not able to bring finances like before. Anyway, despite the challenges, they shouldn’t overlook the well-being of their workers.
Health Factors
Some companies right now aren’t up and running, while some have found a way to resume the business with their employees working from home.
Ministry of Manpower and Ministry of Health jointly issued some guidelines for companies to follow to keep employees safe during the pandemic.
To control the spread of the disease, minimal physical contact is to be made. This means Work from Home After Circuit Breaker should continue and meetings, seminars, and other communications should be done through the internet when possible. Companies should hire a Safe Management Officer (SMO) and install a SafeEntry Management System.
The SMO should make sure proper hygiene is maintained in the office. Employees need to wear a mask and maintain social distancing. Temperature screenings and health checks should be done regularly on the premises. Soaps, hand sanitizers and toilet papers should be readily available.
More vulnerable employees should be given extra attention and activities that need prolonged close physical distance should not be allowed in any condition. Moreover, companies shouldn’t cross-deploy employees. They should also create a schedule such that if employees really need to travel, they can do it outside peak hours.
The Job Security Factor
Another factor to the well being is job security. With wage cuts and job losses being prevalent all over the city-state, a company will really increase the confidence and mental well beingof employees if they can assure that no one loses their jobs.
Firms can use a Job Support Scheme (JSS) to keep paying wages. It co-funds between 25% to 75% of the first $4,600 monthly income over a period of ten months. If interested, you can look at the Singapore budget 2020 highlights to know more about the program.
