Happy Fridays, Well-being allowance, Covid-19 emergency task force, and three-tier protection kit are a few of its several initiatives
by Suman Gupta
May 2021, New Delhi: Wiley, a global education, learning, and research giant stands committed to the well-being of its employees amid the virulent second wave of Covid-19 in the country. To help its employees in India navigate through the challenging times, the Company has been taking several initiatives for employee care and support. These initiatives include Happy Fridays, Covid-19 well-being allowance, Emergency task force, and a three-tier protection kit, each designed to provide requisite relief and assistance to employees in need.
The Company believes that the current situation calls for a well-deserved time for employees to focus on themselves and their families. All employees are, therefore, being encouraged to take paid time off for themselves and their family in case they are sick or if they have family members who need their immediate care and support. The Company has also introduced ‘Happy Fridays’ to enhance focus on well-being. Employees can take paid half-day on Fridays and utilize this time completely to rest and recharge, invest in self-development, master a new skill, or simply volunteer in community initiatives.
The Company is also helping its employees with a Covid-19 well-being allowance. This allowance is being given to support employees and their families to cover daily expenses such as local pharmacy needs, ordering food, or transportation to or from medical facilities.
Additionally, Wiley India has implemented telemedicine support for helping its employees and families with the care that they need. An extended COVID insurance is also being provided to the employees, consisting of COVID home-quarantine expenses as well as vaccination for employees, their spouses, and two dependents, at no cost.
To further aid employees cope or manage uncertainty, the Company is providing confidential support and counseling 24/7 via its Employee Assistance Program (EAP). The Company’s HR is reaching out to its employees on a proactive basis to help them with the required support & assistance.
The global education, learning, and research firm is working round the clock to ensure maximum support to its colleagues for necessary medical equipment, a demand which is only increasing under the impact of the pandemic. The Company has deployed an emergency task force for colleagues and their families who are to be contacted in case a need arises for oxygen concentrators and cylinders. A three-tier employee care and protection kits are being managed by the Company. At the first stage, all employees are being provided with general care and safety kits. At the second and third stage, oxygen concentrators of different capacities are being placed by the Company for its employees across offices in major locations.
Some emergency measures have also been set in place for colleagues as per their respective needs and requirements. Employees are being actively persuaded to reach out to the contact partners in Wiley India to seek any support that they may need.
Commenting on the same, Mr. Vikas Gupta, Managing Director, Wiley India said, “These are unprecedented times which require all of us to work in tandem and support each other. Our employees are our greatest asset, and it is our prerogative to help them in such challenging and trying times. There is nothing extraordinary that we are doing. However, what is heartening to see, is the collective power of humanity. I would like to take this moment to sincerely appreciate each person and organization who is coming forward and lending a helping hand to the people in need.”
Taking cognizance of the present situation, Wiley India is also encouraging its able employees to contribute and volunteer for community welfare and support by making a personal donation directly to any registered charity that is supporting India’s relief efforts. As community support, the global firm Wiley will match colleague donations up to a total of $20,000 and make a corporate donation split across the three non-profitable organizations- Medecins Sans Frontieres (Doctors Without Borders), Americares & American India Foundation who are sending aid and working on-ground to help India and its people navigate the Covid-19 crisis.
About Wiley: Wiley drives the world forward with education, learning, and research. It helps students, researchers, universities, and corporations to achieve their goals in an ever-changing world. For more than 200 years, Wiley has been delivering consistent performance to all its stakeholders. The Company’s website can be accessed at http://www.wiley.com.
