Solar power has become a popular renewable energy source in recent years, with numerous advantages over traditional fossil fuels. One of the newest and promising applications of solar technology is floating solar power plants. Unlike conventional solar plants that require large tracts of land for installation, floating solar power plants can be constructed on waterbodies such as ponds, lakes, and reservoirs.

Greenam Energy has one of India’s largest and state-of-the-art floating solar power plants built at the manufacturing facility at SPIC, Tuticorin.

This blog explores some of the many benefits of floating solar power plants.

Floating solar power plants have several benefits over traditional solar plants, including cost savings, increased efficiency, and improved environmental impact. Floating solar plants are easier to install and maintain than land-based solar plants. Additionally, they have the added benefit of generating electricity without using valuable land resources.

1. It doesn’t require additional landmass or acquiring of land and can be used in water bodies.

   One of the primary advantages of floating solar power plants is that they do not require additional landmass or land acquisition. As a result, they can be used in various waterbodies, including ponds, lakes, and reservoirs. This makes them an ideal solution for countries or regions with limited land and abundant water resources.

2. It helps keep the water bodies cool and less evaporation due to heat.

   In addition to generating clean electricity, floating solar power plants can help keep water bodies cool. Covering the surface of the water with solar panels, they help to reduce the amount of heat absorbed by the water. This, in turn, can help to reduce evaporation, save water and maintain a healthy aquatic ecosystem. Floating solar projects provide higher yield than traditional land-based solar plants.

3. Clean electricity

   Like traditional solar plants, floating solar power plants generate clean electricity. However, they can be more efficient than land-based solar plants because they are installed on water bodies. It is because water cools the panels, which helps to improve their efficiency.

4. Large factories or manufacturing setups that have idle water bodies can utilize the same

   Large factories or manufacturing setups with idle water bodies can also benefit from installing floating solar power plants. By utilizing these water bodies, they can generate clean electricity while reducing their reliance on traditional power sources. Additionally, installing floating solar power plants can help these factories reduce their carbon footprint and improve their environmental impact.

In conclusion, floating solar power plants have numerous advantages. They are cost-effective, efficient, and have a positive environmental impact. In addition, they do not require land acquisition and can be installed in various water bodies. As the demand for clean energy continues to grow, floating solar power plants will likely become an increasingly important component of our energy infrastructure.

Climate change is real and nearer than ever before. It has accelerated the need for businesses to do their part in effectively utilizing available resources and secure the global goal of net-zero emissions by 2050. Given their carbon footprint, industrial and manufacturing companies need to prioritize energy efficiency with an eye on the 1.5°C climate target.

As the world — governments, businesses, and citizens — evolves towards a more sustainable way of life, industrial and manufacturing processes, too, need a green makeover. Some immediate and resolute actions include:

• Expediting the phasing out the use of fossil fuels.
• Increasing investments in alternate and renewable energy sources like solar and wind.

Climate and geographical factors play a key role in choosing renewables for organizations as they need to ensure a consistent and regular supply of energy. In this context, India’s location allows optimal harnessing of solar energy, making it a high-value choice for manufacturing sector in the country.

For example, SPIC, the flagship company of the AM International group, inaugurated a floating solar power plant within its premises at Thoothukudi, Tamil Nadu. Owned by Greenam Energy, part of our green solutions business, the state-of-the-art 22 MW solar power plant has the capacity to comfortably meet all of SPIC’s green energy needs.

During its inauguration, Ashwin Muthiah, Founder Chairman of AM International, said, “It demonstrates our ESG commitment to progress towards renewable energy. The project marks a significant achievement in the development of solar-generated energy. It further establishes our focus on using renewable energy to build a sustainable future.”

The setting up of renewable energy sources by companies is gaining traction among the manufacturing sector. Besides, decision-makers need to internalize that switching to renewable energy in fact attracts several long-term advantages. Here are five business benefits of moving to solar-powered operations:

• Cost-efficient: Solar power is cheaper to harness and use than traditional energy resources like coal or gas. It helps to optimize energy use and reduces raw material costs, thereby positively impacting the cost of production. Moreover, unique concepts like floating solar plants, which can be installed on existing water bodies, eliminate the need for additional land to set up the infrastructure.
• Self-reliant, fewer risks, more resilience: In-house power generation reduces an organization’s reliance on power suppliers. It lessens business risks like unexpected outages or supply disruptions, ensuring business continuity and resilience to withstand adverse situations. Solar power plants decrease the chances of emergencies like gas leaks and fires, de-risking nearby communities and forests as well.
• Additional revenue source: In case an organization’s solar power plant generates surplus energy, it can be sold to the power generation companies. This way, the company’s green investment gets an additional source of revenue. It also helps the local ecosystem with clean power, further enhancing the nation’s sustainable goals.
• Tax credits: Considering the global focus on sustainable energy, most countries now offer concessions to green investments. Manufacturing businesses can avail of tax breaks from the various schemes introduced by the central and local governments to encourage green practices. This enables companies to get costs efficiencies by setting up solar power infrastructure.
• Supporting the nation’s goals: By setting up solar power plants and using green energy in their operations, manufacturing companies can help nations fulfil their SDG goals and COP26 commitment. It accelerates the country’s move towards achieving its target of net-zero emissions.

Industrial units have vast potential to develop and employ eco-efficient sources of power generation. This will not only help arrest the effects of climate change, but it will also insulate the business from market volatilities and high costs related to traditional energy procurement. As efficiency increases and technology advances even further, solar power plants can significantly help the manufacturing sector achieve self-reliance for their energy needs and lead the nation’s sustainable growth.

The COVID-19 pandemic turned most of our reality virtual. As we became locked down in our homes with restrictions on physical movement and interaction, we turned to our devices for more than just work and entertainment. We kept in touch with loved ones over video calls, shuffled between back-to-back virtual work meetings and enrolled for online fitness or hobby classes. Some of us even attended weddings and other social events virtually for the first time. With no other options on hand, our screens became our window to the world.

A PwC study found that smartphone data usage has increased by 30% more during the pandemic. You can simply look at the screen time statistics on your devices to find out how much time you’ve been spending on digital activities. While compulsion drove the behaviour change during the pandemic, experts caution that if similar digital usage patterns continue, it could have detrimental effects on one’s well-being. Research also indicates a link between the nature of stimuli from digital consumption and addiction.

So, the fading of the pandemic and the gradual return to normal activities is a much-needed opportunity for a digital detox. Like any change, the shift won’t be immediate, but here are three ways the post-pandemic normal will help wean you off excess screen time.

Return to office

Going back to our traditional work environment will single-handedly reduce a significant chunk of our daily screen time. Apart from the essential tasks that need a computer, all other activities will be offline and screen-free again. From meetings to collaborating and chatting with colleagues, you can now do it in person instead of through a screen.

Commute

We can go places again — whether it’s the office, market, park, mall or to meet a friend at a restaurant. The time it takes to get from one place to another means that much more time spent away from the screen. If you drive, it gives you a break from the screen by default. If you don’t drive or take public transport, make a conscious effort to engage in a non-digital activity during your commute.

Offline life

COVID-19 guidelines necessitated many routine offline activities to be conducted digitally, adding extra screen time that wouldn’t have been there otherwise. Students were attending classes online, closed gyms meant following fitness training videos on the screen, groceries were being ordered online, you probably consulted with your doctor virtually and even socializing was a largely online affair. All these activities can go back to being offline and screen-free.

While our modern life makes it challenging to be entirely screen-free, the conditions now make it possible to commit to a digital detox. Some of the screen-free changes — like meeting your friends and colleagues in person — may come into effect by default because you’ll be physically in those places and around those people. Meanwhile, you may have to make conscious efforts for some of the other changes. For instance, remind yourself not to spend too much time on social media or watching TV because other options for leisure and entertainment are now available. So, remember to utilize this time for a digital detox. Stay away from screens wherever possible and rediscover a life that isn’t entirely dependent on digital activities.

In his book ‘Homo Deus’, public intellectual and historian Yuval Noah Harari mentions that after humanity has secured prosperity, growth and better healthcare facilities, the immediate next goal is to achieve maximum happiness. It’s no different for organizations that are simply a collective of human beings.

We are in the era where ’employee experience’ is as essential to business as ‘customer experience’. The ongoing pandemic has elicited the pressing need to foster a culture that promotes work-life balance and focuses on employee wellbeing. Happiness and wellness have also become crucial aspects of hiring and retaining talent.

The discussion on employee happiness is increasingly dominating leaders’ priorities across levels, industries and geographies. A survey by People Matters found that 43% of working professionals believe that a healthy work environment is the key to happiness.

Scandinavians — toppers of the world’s happiness index for years — take the need for imbibing a culture of happiness at work so seriously that they even have a word for it — Arbejdsglæde — which means happiness at work. It isn’t surprising because, ultimately, there’s no greater motivator than being happy to go to work every day.

But what is happiness in the context of work? Narrowing it down to job satisfaction is an oversimplification. Instead, happiness at work is an outcome of being positively engaged. This inspires employees to love what they do, which eventually leads to improved productivity and use of potential.

So, what can organisations do to ensure happiness at work for their employees? There are several approaches to infuse a sense of delight into daily operations. But there are some emotional aspects that are essential to ensure employee wellbeing. These are:

• Psychological safety: This is a significant factor in experiencing joy at work. Employees need to feel that they can voice ideas and issues without the fear of being judged. It empowers them to be themselves. Furthermore, it strengthens their connection to the organization’s growth and goals.
• Responsibility with independence: Having the freedom of choice in how one completes a task imparts a feeling of ownership. This enhances the drive to deliver creatively and effectively with enthusiasm. Likewise, freedom of action encourages ownership of business decisions and outcomes, which leads to feelings of being involved and appreciated.
• Being social: Humans are a social species. Employees give importance to feeling a sense of belonging to their team and organization. It helps them to bring out their best and productive selves at work. This also converges with working on a shared organizational vision that encourages one to function in tandem towards the greater good.
• A balancing act: Creating a personal workspace where one can take a break, design a personalized routine, and give the required attention to their family is another aspect important to employees. For instance, the right to choose WFH or hybrid, wherever possible, is a highly touted example of employee-centric work culture.

Even with these fundamental aspects, leaders must understand that the feeling of happiness is uniquely individualized. Team leads should adopt a culture of checking in with each employee separately. Case in point, The Qualtrics 2022 Employee Experience Trends report suggests that despite respondents from India reporting some of the highest levels of engagement (85%) and wellbeing (89%) at work, only 62% plan to stay with their current employer for the next 12 months.

This reflects that surface-level wellbeing checks or initiatives are not enough. Instead, cultivating a happy work environment entails a more profound and unbiased review of the current culture followed by mindful execution of the required transformation. Changing the organizational culture is also a paradigm shift that follows a trickle-down pattern. It must start from the top with leaders setting the tone of a work culture that nurtures employee happiness.

They say homeward journeys are often the best. The return flight of the legacy airline, Air India, to the Tata Group gave us a similar feeling. It has a lesson for businesses on creating brands through sustainable and trusted conduct.

Most business takeovers are just a piece of news and rarely capture the public’s imagination. However, the return of ‘The Maharajah’, from the Government of India to the Tatas after 68 years, has been an emotional moment for avid fliers. This displays a remarkable brand story. The brand has established such a powerful connect with its consumers that its values and integrity have sustained for years and transcended generations.

A strong business culture that is a gold standard for both employee and customer experience is the building block of a legacy brand. Business outreach, steady growth and rewarding decisions stem from planning and executing an agile strategy. But, it’s an integrated cultural framework that sets the tone of an organisation’s outlook. Ultimately, robust workplace ethics translate into long-term corporate value. In Peter Drucker’s words, “Culture eats strategy for breakfast.”

Iconic brands get built on the foundation of the below principles.

Work culture: Commercial losses are a part of the business lifecycle. A firm’s culture should remain unaffected by wins or losses. The ethos of integrity, long-term value creation and professional management helped the Group win the bid almost effortlessly.

Don’t tell, show: A smooth strategy can be executed in silence and deliver the desired results with a reverberating impact. The approach of excellence in customer service and delight can be replicated across businesses. Be it traditional hospitality or new-age businesses, they have established a deep sense of trust in their product and brand’s conduct.

Determination: Sometimes blinders do help. A narrowed vision can sharpen focus. Unwavering attention on the goal and a ‘never say never’ attitude helped the Group regain the business.

• Planning: A deep analysis of the industry and the economy
• Patience: They didn’t lose hope even after almost seven decades
• Perseverance: Relentless pursuit of the goal

Purpose: A sense of purpose unites a firm — whether it’s an ethical approach at the workplace or the business ecosystem, i.e. Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) principles. Having a purpose elevates the motivation of employees to deliver their best as it relates to the fundamental human need of being part of a community.

Culture is the unspoken parlance that we instinctively understand and act upon, making it the most effective guiding undercurrent towards a company’s vision.

The brand has come full circle and is back to where it belongs. From this long journey, one thing is clear — building a brand is one thing; building a business with an institutional approach that far outlives its founder, quite another.

No team of customer service experts, no makeover mavericks, just a shoestring budget and inherent understanding of the mantra ‘Customer is the king.’ And, Anna Durai changed the auto ride game on the stretch of Old Mahabalipuram Road, Chennai.

The inspiring story of the inventive auto driver demonstrates that with a bit of extra thought, effort and planning, one can build a customer focus strategy on a minimum budget to deliver a reverberating impact. Add to that random ‘brainstorming’ with the passengers on how he might better their life!
Durai plies an auto, like none other! Furnished with utilities that one might require during a short distance trip, he has augmented the concept of customer service with no extra cost.

When his business didn’t go as planned, he chose to bring in his expertise and entrepreneurial thinking into his current mode of earning. It all began with placing newspapers in the backseat as a small provision for the riders to occupy themselves productively amidst traffic.

As he began interacting with the commuters to comprehend them better, he understood their needs and today, his auto offers a slice of life for everyone during their short journey. Magazines and newspapers for readers, Wi-Fi for people who want to surf, a small TV and music player for entertainment, a laptop, iPad or tablet for someone who wants to close an assignment while on the road. He also offers snacks, drinking water or juice in a mini-fridge inside the auto for people who might have skipped a meal!

Indeed, a gesture that will keep customers coming back and generate word-of-mouth publicity.

The most brilliant ideas are always simple. However, realizing a vision requires understanding the need-gap in any situation and a sense of purpose and passion for delivering. The auto ride is now a revered service whereby commuters enlist the travel services rather than him looking for passengers. His clientele includes employees of tech giants like Microsoft and Amazon, to name a few.

Customer delight is an art, and we have a lot to learn from Anna Durai’s ground-level perspective.

Here are a few learnings:

• Large budgets are not a prerequisite for establishing your brand: A breakthrough in executing great customer experiences comes from unorthodox and innovative thinking. It is about a growth mindset that individuals need to inculcate within themselves. A curious individual can provide the spark required for out-of-the-box creativity.
• CSR can start small: A thoughtfully chalked out CSR plan requires zero investment and can go a long way to demonstrate commitment to purpose and doing good. Offering free rides to doctors, teachers, and frontline workers is a noble deed. It’s a simple and effective way –- of directly touching lives and giving back to the society.
• The brand needs to be where the consumers are: Integrating technology and connectivity is critical in today’s customer experience journey. Anna Durai understood that it is crucial for people, during transit, to entertain themselves or to connect, so they don’t get disconcerted with the traffic or miss out on an important call.
• Cost and value pricing is the key to customer loyalty: Even after setting the bar of services so high, he kept the charges similar to the other autos, making it the ride of choice for customers. The cost-efficient strategy now ensures that passengers needing a ride in the city call him for a ride and even pre-book his services from his website.
• Hyperlocal experiments have their own magic: He drives his auto in a limited area and has yet gained the nation’s attention. Creating an experience for the customer wherever and in whatever role you are is vital to establishing your brand. In addition, experimentation generates curiosity that will push people to try your brand.

Customer delight is not a sudden flash of inspiration. It is the accumulation of incremental improvisations, carefully meted out through experimentation and a certain amount of risk.

Gaining knowledge is the key to innovation. Reading newspapers elicited the idea of providing it for his customers. His efforts to try an alternative business model that’s never been tried before led his practice to become a classic customer delight case study.

Anna Durai has shown us that an indomitable entrepreneurial spirit can open up magical possibilities in any situation – lessons in customer delight that each one of us can implement in our work-life.

Photo credit: The Logical Indian

Evolution led by technology characterizes the history of work. Ever since the Industrial Revolution, new technology has continually changed the way we work. Huge machines changed the face of manufacturing. New modes of transport redefined the transfer of goods. Computers and telecommunications replaced several tools, equipment and supplies on office desks.

With new technology developing at lightning speed, the change has accelerated manifold in recent decades. What was once considered the ‘future of work’ is now here. We take a look at three exciting technology innovations that are changing the way we work, think and execute our tasks.

1) Digitalization: Bridging physical world limitations

New developments in software and technology have helped convert several business processes to digital. Many manual and recurring tasks have been automated. Not only has this helped organizations to save time and resources, but also made their processes more efficient and effective. Cloud computing and advanced collaboration tools have enabled businesses to function remotely. In some cases, it is now possible for organizations to run seamlessly with minimum physical commercial infrastructure.

Most of these technologies have existed for some time but were not adopted because organizations didn’t see the need to disturb the status quo. When COVID-19-related restrictions on physical movement left no other option, companies were quick to adapt to a digital way of being. The experiment resulted in many types of benefits and convinced organizations to accept the new way of work.

2) Big Data: Revolutionizing decision making

Big data is changing the way professionals and executives think and make decisions. The sources from where data can be collected have expanded exponentially – from IoT to social networks, company, and government data to detailed customer profiles. Digitalization, too, has played a role as more records turn digital. Powerful servers and special data centers have made storage convenient. Meanwhile, sophisticated computing systems have made it possible to access and analyze massive amounts of data from various sources instantly and in real-time.

There was a time when businesses solely depended on data from paper records. This offered limited insights based on past events and required manual analysis which was time and resource consuming. Big data offers automated insights for better and quicker decision making. It also equips organizations with predictive models and simulations to foresee the future and prepare for it ahead of time.

3) Driverless technology: Reshaping logistics and mobility

Unmanned technology of various types – drones to cars and autonomous robots – have been making waves in technology circles for some years. While most of this technology is still in trial or development stages, many are betting big on its potential to transform logistics and mobility as we know it. Once regulations related to the use of drones evolve, their production and applications are set to accelerate across sectors.

They are most popularly known for delivering consumer goods, but drones have proved useful in making speedy deliveries of critical medicines to remote areas. Drones are also being used in disaster management and relief efforts, going places that are hard to reach or risky for humans. In addition to these, drones can be used for geo-mapping, surveys, and remote sensing. They also hold promise for the agriculture and industrial sectors, allowing for better inspection and management of crops and assets.

To be a business relevant to the times, organizations will need to implement innovations and new technology developments. They will play a leading role in shaping how businesses operate and function in the future.

A business doesn’t operate in isolation. It requires the cooperation of its employees, their families and the communities that surround it for its smooth operation. AM International Holdings owes its success to the communities and regions we operate amidst. We recognize this and believe in expressing our gratitude by giving back to society.

Our contributions aren’t simply financial in nature, but include real, on-ground action that propels positive change and impact. These efforts also give our employees the opportunity to engage in meaningful activities for the betterment of society. The chance to volunteer helps them develop a sense of purpose and fosters feelings of well-being.

AM Foundation is the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) arm of AM International Holdings. The impact investing efforts of our group companies are consolidated under the foundation. It undertakes CSR activities on behalf of all the member corporates. The foundation enables our companies to share resources and expertise to create value beyond our core business activities. It works with government and local authorities to develop innovative solutions that cater to the needs of the communities.

Over the past month, our companies have rolled out several CSR initiatives. The different measures share the common focus of building a sustainable future. We did this by working towards a cleaner environment, child welfare and community health. Here’s a look at our most recent CSR efforts:

Cleaner environment

There’s no better way than afforestation to ensure a clean environment and maintain ecological balance. Manali Petrochemicals (MPL), with the support of Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC), is using the ingenious Miyawaki method to develop a green belt around its facilities. The technique involves planting different types of native tree species instead of just one type. This results in a dense and diverse green cover that becomes self-sustaining over time.

MPL started the project by planting trees in Zone 2, Ward 15 in Manali New Town in Chennai, India. The tree species were selected based on recommendations from the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB). MPL is now encouraged to continue the project and has been granted additional land by the GCC to plant more trees. SPIC, too, organized tree plantation drives in which SPIC teams planted 75 trees daily for seven days.

Child welfare

Proper sanitation facilities in public schools play a great role in positively impacting education outcomes. In addition to ensuring the good health of students, the facilities also boost the enrolment, attendance, and retention of children in schools. When children feel encouraged to go to school, they won’t miss out on their valuable years of education. Driving up literacy of the younger population invariably builds a sustainable future for the country.

MPL and the AM Foundation funded the provision of sanitary blocks in three government-run schools in Chennai, India. The Government High School in Chinnasekkadu, Adi Dravidar Girls Higher Secondary School and Adi Dravidar Boys Higher Secondary School in Vadakarai were equipped with infrastructure for the best hygiene and sanitation. During the inauguration event, students were also educated on the importance of sanitation, cleanliness, and hygiene.

Community health

Primary healthcare is one of the focus areas of AM Foundation. Our objective is to bridge gaps in community health by facilitating access to quality healthcare. We are doing this by establishing primary healthcare centers around our factories so that our employees, their families and the rest of the community have easy access to the best healthcare services.

MPL inaugurated a primary healthcare center at Kalaignar Nagar in Chennai, India, and Tamilnadu Petroproducts inaugurated one at Sadayankuppam in Manali, Chennai, India. Besides attending to out-patient visits, the centers also organize health education and awareness programmes. They are also equipped to support local authorities in immunization programmes and health development schemes.

We pledge to continue and keep up the good work.

The Tokyo Olympics 2020 was one of the biggest and most anticipated events globally. Tokyo 2020 saw world records broken in 24 events.

Swimmers and rowers making the most breakthroughs, shattering six world records each. Four world records were broken in weightlifting and three in athletics and cycling track events.

1. Which athlete won the most gold medals in Tokyo?

Caeleb Dressel. By winning five gold medals in Tokyo, Dressel becomes the 4th male swimmer in the history of the USA to achieve the feat after Mark Spitz, Matt Biondi, and Michael Phelps.

2. What was the age difference between the youngest and oldest medal winners in Tokyo?

50 years. Kokona Hiraki won a silver medal at the age of 12 in the park skateboarding event and Andrew Hoy won a silver in equestrianism at the age of 62.

3. The women’s football final between Canada and Sweden went to penalties. Of the 12 penalties taken in the shootout, how many were scored?

Five.
More than half of the penalties were either missed or saved. Canada won the shootout, eventually.

4. Who is the coach of India’s Olympic gold medallist, Neeraj Chopra?

Klaus Bartonietz. He is a biomechanics expert from Germany who has been working with Neeraj Chopra since 2018.

5. Kirani James has now won gold, silver and bronze medals at the Olympics. What makes his achievement even more remarkable?

James is the only athlete from Grenada to have won an Olympic medal. He won gold in London, silver in Rio and bronze in Tokyo.

6. Which country won a medal after 40 years in a sport.

India. On July 29, 1980, India won the last of its eight Olympic gold medals in field hockey.

7. Name the Austrian Math professor who won cycling gold.

Dr Anna Kiesenhofer.

The next Olympics will be held in Paris between July 26-August 11 in 2024.

The fear of COVID-19 is far from over. Still, with inoculations in progress and new virus strains, business organisations globally are pursuing to figure out the best ways of return to work in the post-pandemic world. With COVID-19 having brought unprecedented humanitarian challenges, it is evident that we cannot go back to the way we did things in a pre-COVID world.

Organisations are putting the lessons learnt over the past year to best use to reimagine workplaces. Concentrating on creating safe and enjoyable workplaces will ensure productivity and nurture talent within organisations.

While there is no one-size-fits-all solution, the need of the hour is exceptional change-management skills with empathy as a cornerstone as employees return to work.

Here are three C’s that can aid the return of employees while advancing the goals and strategies of the organisation.

Collaboration

Since the outbreak of the pandemic, technology has proved to be a strategic and dependable arsenal to build operational agility and scale. Digital collaboration tools ensured utmost efficiency in the remote working environment. Amid the uncertainty of the pandemic, these tools also helped us achieve a semblance of work-life balance.

As we return to office, technology and digital support will continue to play a pivotal role in the workspace of the future. The primary purpose of an organisation in this next normal is to permeate a culture of collaboration and build greater resilience. They will achieve this goal by combining the efficiency of collaborative tools with the effectiveness of in-person interactions.

Commitment to health and safety

The health and safety of employees can be second to none. Companies need to build and communicate clear strategies about the return to work with a fact-based approach as a trust-building exercise.

The key to this exercise may be to disseminate clear compliance with standard operating procedures as per the local authorities’ rules. Ensuring health and safety issues by making shift adjustments, providing social distancing and sanitisation of on-site employees and encouraging or facilitating vaccinations for all are positive measures.

Finally, it is imperative to have a contingency plan for medical support or hospitalisation if there are positive cases despite preventive measures.

Communication with courage

COVID-19 has taken a toll on the mental health of employees worldwide. While the anxieties and uncertainties will take time to overcome, the onus is to engage and strengthen overall connections with employees recognising and addressing their fears.

Clear and inspiring communication by leaders and senior management alongside simultaneous team building or upskilling activities may help employees make a transition into a new world. The key is to assure employees that we are all in it together – acknowledge and accept the changes of the year gone by, make the requisite transition and finally be hopeful and look towards a brighter future.

COVID-19 has created an unprecedented upheaval in our personal and professional lives. In this transitionary phase, employees returning to work can be a powerful source of motivation. Future ready organisations are walking the extra mile in creating a reassuring and familiar environment.