The world is facing tragic due to the pandemic brought by the coronavirus that infect 219,240 people around the world and kills 8,967 as of writing, based on the worldometers.info.
In the Philippines, the abrupt increase of coronavirus cases in the country prompted President Rodrigo Duterte to place the entirety Luzon under “enhance community quarantine” which effectivity started on March 17, 2020 and determined expiration on the 13th day of April 2020 as health department considered Metro Manila the center of coronavirus in the country.
The same precautionary measure implemented by the local government in various provinces, cities and municipalities in the country in cooperation to the effort of the government to contain the spread of the COVID-19.
The “enhance community quarantine” implemented by the government brought discomfort to every workers and business establishments in the country. Many of the simple laborers feel worries about the uncertainty in the coming days within a 1-month of lockdown period thinking what they feed with their family members. Some were thinking about the effect of not reporting to work within the lockdown period in the since that there is no available transport option from home to the working place.
However, one company in the Philippines that set a good example to emulate of those companies who can afford to give of the same benefits or more, according to the report published by the rachfeed.net.
The Ezential Corporation, the company that sells Redjuice is giving groceries and cash benefits to the employees during the coronavirus crisis.
In a memo dated March 16, 2020, the company notified that the management has decided to observed the government order and temporary close of their office activities until the last day of lockdown period on April 14, 2020.
The memo also informed the employees that even if they don’t report to work, employees will receive the following company benefits, which are the following:
- 1-month supply of basic grocery items such as canned goods and instant noodles
- 1 bag of rice (25kg)
- 2 cutoffs Advance Salary for every regular employees and 1 cut-off for every newly hired employees.
- Php 8,000 COVID-19 cash assistance for regular employees and 4,000 for newly hired employees
- Php 10,000 cash advance – for salary deduction starting on May 15, 2020 which will deduct P500 per cutoff, zero interest.
- Php 1,000 hazard pay for every event that requires attendance
- Php 7,000 vacation allowance for every regular employees; however, 90% of attendance from January to March 15 is required to qualify.
- Additional Php15,000 medical assistance for those who have not yet availed their previous privilege.
The company intends to pay the employees in order for them to stay at home. They should stay at home! Anytime from March 17 to April 15, 2020. The management also noted that they were going to conduct a random surprise visit to the individual employees on their respective homes. During the visit, it says, if the employee is not at home, he/she may be terminated for cause, unless he/she has a valid reason for being not around.
In addition, the management also notified that if ever the employee need to go out for a certain valid reason, he/she must inform his immediate superior.
