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IT firms focus on safer return

Companies initiate key changes in office settings to make them hygienic and secure

By Sruti Venugopal

Updated On - 18 September 2021, 12:34 AM

Hyderabad: When techies will be entering their campuses after 18 months of working from home, they will be welcomed with a changed office ecosystem.

From providing simple solutions like contact-less door opening mechanisms and/or developing in-house health apps, IT companies are preparing their campuses to make them a safe place for the workforce. Companies, depending on their employee strength and size, are making small but key changes in their office settings that make them a hygienic and safe place to work.

“In the first phase of lockdown itself, we moved to a facial recognition-based attendance system thus removing the fingerprint scanner and card-based entry format. Recently, we also introduced automatic tap and soap dispenser mechanisms in restrooms and have made markings in all common areas for the employees to stand or sit at a safe distance from each other. At any given point of time, the cafeteria will not have more than 50 per cent of its capacity and we have developed a way to regulate crowding,” says the facilities head of American software MNC which has its office in Hyderabad.

Similarly, in terms of entry to the campus, Wipro has adopted a fully contactless mechanism wherein employees are given QR codes that need to be scanned at the gate. This code provides details on the employee’s vaccination status and also displays any symptoms the said employee might be having. This security arrangement was visible in the video shared by Wipro chairman Rishad Premji on Twitter.

“In our office, we have kind of automated everything from doors to soap dispensers to taps as these are the most commonly used touch points. Some of the other IT companies have also built an app similar to Aarogya Setu wherein it tracks symptoms of the employees and alerts people to not go to the office. Some companies are also doing daily or periodic health surveys of the employees to keep track of any possible symptoms,” says Ravi Korukonda, co-founder, PurpleTalk.

CDK Global, which provides integrated data and technology solutions and has its centre in Hyderabad, has been providing constant support to its employees and family members.

“We have developed an employee wellness app called CDK Safe launched a year ago. It helps us track the health and well-being status of all employees and family members every week. Through this app, employees can talk to us and reach out to the CDK Special Covid-19 task force which will, in turn, connect them with available medical resources,” says Joy George, Head HR (India), CDK Global.