Employees top priority to Marico Bangladesh amid pandemic

As the world is grappling with the coronavirus pandemic, safety and well-being of employees have become crucially important to every organisation.

Companies that understand and care about this fact have been implementing various measures for the health safety, financial security and moral boost of their employees.

Consumer products manufacturing company Marico Bangladesh has been found to be one of them.

The company asked its employees to stay at home and work virtually as a preventive measure to avoid the virus infection even before the government announced the two-month general holidays or shutdown.

Apart from implementing "work from home", Marico went a step ahead and paid salaries in advance to its employees. It eased possible financial hardship of its members during the unprecedented situation as well as assisted in the employees' personal precautionary purchases.

The company also paid an unconditional humanitarian allowance to all employees and support staff at the factories as well as to the distributor employees.

Marico adopted "critical only" or "essential workforce" structure at its factories and depots, of course with the maximum health safety measures.

While many companies either were compelled or chose to go for salary cuts and, in some cases, furloughing or minimising employee redundancy, Marico continued to assure its members of job security by providing early salaries, bonuses and other benefits.

While talking to The Business Standard, Ahtashamul Hoque, region head (sales) of Marico, said the company has been operating with one philosophy from the very beginning of the pandemic – caring about employees.

And the result is: "Employee morale has never been so up as it is now," he said.

"Employees are being recognised and incentivised for their contribution, which in turn has boosted the operations of our organisation," Ahtashamul added.

"Whereas the world has come to a halt during the ongoing crisis, we were able to launch three new categories and products in the market. It was all possible because of the recognition and the care Marico's employees have received," the official further said.

Sustaining the employees' morale is probably the most complex aspect of addressing employee well-being, he added.

Marico has observed good practices within global corporate giants like Amazon, Facebook, Walmart, Reliance, PepsiCo and Paytm like dial-up employee engagement during this pandemic.

At Marico, members are constantly being engaged through virtual quizzing leagues, fitness challenges, MasterChef competitions, and even ludo competitions, said officials.

Realising mental health effects of the current situation, Marico ensured their virtual wellness and meditation facilities, mental health counselling, 24-hour doctor support and also testing facilities.

Marico has been successful in giving employees that very sense of purpose when it launched hand-sanitiser and hand-washes at a "no profit" commitment.

The company, listed with both the stock exchanges of Bangladesh, contributed funds to the Prime Minister's Welfare Fund, provided food relief to 5,000 families surrounding their factories during the general holiday.

Marico manufactures and markets essential consumer products such as edible oil, hand sanitisers, hand wash, soaps, shampoo, coconut oil, and baby care products among others.