In the face of a massive second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic across the country, CNH Industrial has undertaken a host of preventive measures to combat COVID-19 including daily temperature checking, maintaining social distancing, compulsory registration on the Arogya Setu app, the provision of safety gear including masks, gloves and eye-protection along with daily regular sanitization at all their facilities. Apart from these regular precautionary procedures, which have been in place since the onset of the pandemic, what sets CNH Industrial apart are an onslaught of additional measures undertaken to safeguard the health and safety of employees:
• Insurance for all the employees and their immediate families for COVID infection – A financial support of INR 50,000 is provided to all those employees who are tested positive or are home quarantined. There is also a Home Care Coverage of INR 20,000 for all employees and their families per instance.
• CNH Industrial has forged a tie-up with Apollo Hospitals which has set up a dedicated 24×7 medical consultation helpline number for employees.
• A dedicated task force has been put in place to track all infected employees and arrange all the required assistance from coordinating with the hospital to arranging for beds (both ICU and general), and procuring medicine, oxygen, etc.
• The company has worked with their global counterparts in China and Italy to proactively source Oxygen Concentrators to manage the current oxygen crunch in India.
• Employees are given the choice to work from home and have been asked to report on duty at Offices/ Plants only when required.
• All government guidelines are completely adhered to by the Company including 50% attendance norms or any as per government directives.
• Heads of Departments are directly in touch with their employees on a daily basis and report any health-related issues with the employee and or their family directly to management.
• The Company has deployed COVID Marshalls in factory premises to maintain social distancing amongst employees. Canteen facilities also follow the social distancing norms.
Speaking on the steps taken, Raunak Varma, Country Manager, CNH Industrial India & SAARC, said, “At CNH Industrial, the health and safety of our employees come first and foremost. We have been proactive and have taken all precautionary measures for the mental and physical well-being of our workforce. We are monitoring the situation at our locations on a real time basis, to provide timely support to our employees in case of illness and hospitalization.”
“We are committed to arranging to have all of our employees vaccinated once the availability of vaccines is restored. Once this is complete, we aim to make vaccination a mandatory requisite for entering our facilities to ensure a safe work environment.” he added.
Additional Initiatives undertaken by CNH Industrial:
COVID-19 CSR Relief Intervention- CNH Industrial has also undertaken a few initiatives under CSR to provide relief against COVID-19. The company has donated one lakh surgical masks and 50,000 bottles (100ml) of hand sanitizers to District administration of Greater Noida, Pune, Pithampur and Gurgaon for further donation to hospitals, frontline health workers based on urgencies and priorities mapped by Government. Testing Kits were also donated as part of our CSR to augment healthcare capacities of hospitals as well as frontline health care workers and first responders, as a service to the community.
Solidarity Sanitization Project: CNH Industrial has donated six sets of tractors and sprayers majorly to municipal corporations that are in charge of sanitization. These corporations normally use tractors and tractor mounted sprayers for sanitization of roads, localities, and residential areas to disinfect the environment as a control measure against COVID-19. The locations benefitting are: Greater Noida (3 locations – Nagar Palika Parishad Dadri, Nagar Panchayat Rabupura, Yamuna Expressway Authority), Gurgaon (1 location – Gurujal Society, Mini Secretariat), Pune (1 location – Khed Municipal Corporation, Chakan, Pune), and Pithampur (1 location – Nagar Palika Parishad, Pithampur, Dhar).
Tech Mahindra, a leading provider of digital transformation, consulting and business re-engineering services and solutions, today announced the appointment of Meghna Hareendran as the ‘Wellness Officer’, with immediate effect.
In order to address workforce well-being amidst the COVID crisis, the new role has been created to institutionalize holistic wellness of all associates, and to ensure the access to medicine, hospitals and other medical supplies, while maintaining the mental well-being of the Tech Mahindra family. Meghna will work as a central program manager to take care of the healthcare needs of the associates and will also be responsible for managing relationships with Tech Mahindra partners and vendors to ensure a comprehensive suite of wellness offerings to them.
Harshvendra Soin, Global Chief People Officer & Head – Marketing, Tech Mahindra, said, “Guided by our values and culture of driving positive change, celebrating each moment, and empowering all to Rise, we at Tech Mahindra, have always prioritized the well-being of our associates. Meghna is one of our bright young HR leaders who is passionate and already making a positive difference to the lives of many. Her appointment as a ‘Wellness Officer’ reiterates our belief in ‘Wellness before Business’ and underscores our commitment towards ensuring holistic wellness of our associates.”
Tech Mahindra has also collaborated with leading hospitals to convert some of its campuses into COVID care units. Additionally, the company also launched an exclusive COVID-19 vaccination drive for its associates and their dependent family members across India and will also be covering the cost of vaccination for its associates globally and the third-party employees. As a company with a purpose, Tech Mahindra has extended its support to Mission Oxygen to set up 50 oxygen plants for charitable and government hospitals across India.
Meghna Hareendran, Wellness Officer, Tech Mahindra, said, “The pandemic has taken a significant toll on lives across the world, and it has created a unique challenge to ensure both physical and mental wellness of people. To combat this, the key is to build a wave of ‘collective well-being’, with humans and technology at the center. I want to thank Tech Mahindra for recognizing this early on, and for enabling a culture where everyone comes together to ensure each other’s well-being.”
Tech Mahindra has a 360-degree approach to employee well-being with a huge emphasis on mental health and wellness program, aimed at lending a helping hand to its associate in these difficult times. This includes regular outreach to associates which focuses on 8 different aspects of wellness – emotional, physical, financial, occupational, spiritual, environmental, intellectual, and social. The company also has a comprehensive COVID-19 risk screening test, called Mhealthy, to test the presence of anti-bodies along with all the vital health stats for COVID-19 co-morbidities. By generating real-time reports, the solution ensures that every individual stepping into the Tech Mahindra premises is healthy, making it a safe place to work.
American Standard’sHygieneCleanSystem is setting a new standard of safety in bathrooms be it at home or in hotels. It provides a complete range of hygienic bathroom solutions delivered by revolutionary technologies committed to providing its consumers with not just beautiful products, but also a safe, clean and hygienic environment.
COVID-19 has disrupted industries across the world leading to people around the globe prioritizing cleanliness and hygiene for their well-being. When it comes to purposeful products, American Standard continues to raise the bar in delivering dependable bathroom solutions that combine thoughtful designs and innovative technologies. Backed by 140+ years of pioneering legacy, American Standard has launched its campaign ‘HygieneClean’ with an aim to raise hygiene standards globally during the pandemic.
The American Standard HygieneClean is delivered by powerful flushing and rim technologies:
ComfortClean Technology – A revolutionary ceramic glaze with zinc oxide that effectively inhibits growth of E. coli bacteria inside the toilet bowl for the long term and beyond, as proven in tests conducted by Industrial Microbiological Services Limited (IMSL)
The Double Vortex mechanism – The rimless design and two water ejection holes ensure maximum flushing performance with minimum water usage.
SiphonMax Flushing System – The SiphonMax flushing technology with Power Rim features a dynamic vacuum mechanism with side water jets to create a powerful swirl that can evacuate heavy and light waste completely.
Hygiene Rim – The rimless design allows easy cleaning with a single wipe.
Power Rim – Combined with our advanced flushing technology, this rim design eliminates hard-to-reach surfaces for effective removal of dirt and stains.
Aqua Ceramic – An award-winning super-hydrophilic technology that prevents dirt and dark ring stains from sticking to ceramic surfaces.
REAN Foundation recently associated with TiE DC University program to promote the startups working to create innovative solutions to provide better quality healthcare at affordable costs. Sri Vasireddy, the founder of REAN Foundation, established the organization with a vision to empower individuals to manage health challenges on their own, without compromising their quality of life. The foundation is focused on providing support that would allow monitoring of health parameters at home and easy access to medical experts. In order to achieve this mission, the organization is also sponsoring and promoting startups that are reimagining the lines of the traditional healthcare experience.
TiE DC University program has been launched to empower university and college students and recent graduates from 2019 and 2020 to become the next generation of entrepreneurs by educating, mentoring, and inspiring them to plan and take intelligent risks in starting a business.
As a program sponsor, REAN Foundation has awarded grants to the following innovative startups that emerged as finalists in the Healthcare and Wellness space, working to create innovative solutions in the preventative/behavioral health:
Clafiya
Early Intervention Systems Inc.
Vitalize
Kits to Heart
Ichosia Biotechnology, Inc.
Health X
While the COVID-19 pandemic has placed unprecedented demands on the existing healthcare systems, young entrepreneurs have demonstrated the agility and the ability to fast-track Medtech innovations to meet critical market needs. “REAN Foundation has been a great support for our program that mentors young innovators and visionaries,” said Ravi Puli, co-founder and chair of the TiE University Program at Washington DC Chapter of TiE, and co-chair of the global programme. “Their grants to startups in the Healthcare sector will encourage many others to strive and innovate safer and better solutions that pave the way for a healthier society.”
“Innovation in the Health/Wellness sector needs to focus on maintaining good health as well as providing access to easy, affordable care at home. The only way forward for innovators and entrepreneurs is to empower individuals to be able to maintain good health and manage illness independently. REAN Foundation is focused on realizing these goals.” said Sri Vasireddy, founder, REAN Foundation.
REAN Foundation will soon launch REAN Care, a platform to provide preventive care to protect against or reduce the likelihood of health emergencies while lowering health care costs. Click here to learn more.
About REAN Foundation
REAN Foundation works with the aim to empower individuals to face health challenges independently. The organization focuses on creating solutions that make it easy to monitor health without leaving the comfort of home. It empowers people to maintain a healthy lifestyle with insights from experts. REAN Foundation offers a platform that allows people to set wellness goals, work to achieve those while having the ability to constantly monitor progress.
About TiE DC University
TiE DC University program was launched to empower university and college students and recent graduates from 2019 and 2020 to become the next generation of entrepreneurs by educating, mentoring, and inspiring them to plan and take intelligent risks in starting a business.
Baby Boomers, born between 1946 and 1964, have some newfound time and energy. Aging is taking on a completely different meaning for this generation that was raised during Flower Power, the Civil Rights movement and Vietnam War protests.
Helping to lead that charge is Greenville, South Carolina entrepreneur Wendy Green, age 67. Green has launched “Hey, Boomer”, a national podcast and brand aimed at helping Baby Boomers rediscover their passion to learn, grow and have an impact in their lives and their communities. Hey, Boomer is helping lead Boomers to their better selves.
The “Hey, Boomer” podcast is live every Monday, 1 p.m. ET and is simulcast on LinkedIn, Facebook and YouTube. The audio is then available on Apple Podcast, Spotify, Stitcher and Google Podcast. To find more information about the podcast and get involved, visit the Hey, Boomer Facebook page.
Launched in April 2020, the show already has a post reach on Facebook of more than 24,000! Additionally, the show has been recognized in the Top 15 podcasts for Baby Boomers by Feedspot, a noted industry authority.
“Like my audience, I want to feel relevant,” noted Wendy Green. She continued, “I want to feel that what I do matters. I want to feel inspired. I want to feel engaged with my community. I know that I am not the only one feeling this way. Lots of Boomers, people of my generation, also want to feel part of something bigger, important and worthwhile.”
The Hey, Boomer brand and podcast provides guests, ideas and a nudge. It helps make meaning from your experience, ability and passion. Nationally recognized guests range from author Dr. Sara Zeff Geber expanding upon “Solo Agers” to Eva Hausman and Kim Hausman Athan who were motivated to start The Mother’s Day Movement after reading a book called “Half The Sky.” Their desire and passion to help women has enabled them to raise over $700,000 since 2011. Weekly guests are thought leaders, innovators and on the vanguard.
Green has spent her life working with and inspiring people. She worked in corporate America as a technical trainer and in leadership development. She had a KidzArt franchise from 2005-2011 in Leesburg, VA, where she won the Franchisee of the Year award in 2009. She accomplished that feat while commuting to Greenville, SC to help care for her father. In 2013, Green was certified as a Professional Coach and she is a past two-term Rotary President of the Reedy River (South Carolina) Rotary Club.
The Hey, Boomer podcast and brand was born after Green was laid off in March 2020, due to Covid-19 shutdowns. She had been through corporate layoffs before and knew that during the pandemic a lot of people would be struggling with job loss and larger issues.
On April 13, 2020 she launched Hey, Boomer as a Facebook Live event, with 4 viewers. Since then, she has had guests from all over the US, Canada, the UK, Israel and even Australia. The audience continues to grow as people are motivated and inspired by the thoughtful guests.
In addition to the podcast, Wendy offers a coaching program called “Time to Make a Difference”, an 8 session course that inspires Boomers to embrace an exciting, passionate next step. Events, webinars, workshops and conferences will also be supported by the Hey, Boomer brand.
For more information about the Hey, Boomer podcast and brand, visit the official website – https://heyboomer.biz
Dr. Rajendra Kapila was a part of RUTGERS New Jersey Medical School. He was an eminent epidemiologist who was a founding member of New Jersey Infectious Disease Society. He also was the Chair of the Infection Control Committee. He was fully vaccinated with Pfizer vaccine. He was visiting India to support his family that was suffering from COVID-19.
At 81 and being a diabetic, it made him more vulnerable to being severely affected but that didn’t deter him from coming. It has also raised questions about the capability of Pfizer vaccine to fight with ever new variants of the disease.
His recent publication was entitled “Pandemics throughout the Centuries” and was co-authored with Dr. Robert A. Schwartz and can be found here.
Dr. Kapila received his Pre-Medical degree from St. Xaviers College Calcutta, W. Bengal, India, and the Medical Degree from the University of Delhi, India. After completion of his residency in Irwin Hospital India, he moved to the US where he was an intern, resident & fellow at Martland Hospital in Newark, NJ. He was also Assistant Chief of Medicine for the US Army in Okinawa Japan, during the Vietnam conflict. Dr. Kapila received his UMDNJ University Appointment in 1973 and the University Hospital Appointment in 1976. He is a founding member of the New Jersey Infectious Disease Society and has also received the Excellence in Teaching Award from UMDNJ, and Life Time Achievement award from the Department of Medicine. Dr. Kapila is an attending physician and the Epidemiologist, University Hospital. Dr. Kapila is also the Chair of the Infection Control Committee.
