I have over a span of time learnt conventional issues at times, are best addressed in the virtual world. Of course, use of this tool has often led to abuse, but, we should learn to accept it with a pinch of salt. Personally, in my opinion this is an option that by far has proved a more useful source to process my thoughts and emotions, and thereby be introduced to different perceptions, re-actions that’s sets me thinking and enables me to grow.
I started an online petition that – Nursing mothers and co-morbidity cases should be working from home if possible. This particular decision was triggered by an incident, where I was greatly disturbed when a nursing mother narrated her hardships of handling her job, then rushing home for a quick bath to feed her child. A stressed hungry mother is then expected to attend to the needs of her child. It’s inhuman to risk the lives of such mothers and their tiny innocent children especially when the work can be done from home, which is largely true in certain professions like teaching, IT etc. The recent decision that 33% Infosys’ staff will be permanently working from home globally, assured me that all is not lost, and there are companies with their heart and mind in place.
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In worse case scenario, if it is practically impossible to permit WFH, flexi-timing should become the new norm. I can already hear judgemental voices declare such women employees can quit, stop cribbing when they get paid etc. As a society, it’s our collective duty to protect the interests of the vulnerable section, co-morbidity cases, where people with genuine medical cases such as weak heart functioning, supplemented by other disorders and other age related factors, needs a consideration. The senior employees who have put in decades of service, should be given relief, rather than urge them to retire or go on medical leave.
When heads of organisation conveniently claim ignorance it is inexcusable. The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) guidelines for unlock 2, states that ‘People above 65 years of age, persons with co-morbidities, pregnant women, and children below the age of 10 years are advised to stay at home, except for essential and health purposes’.
Overlooking the guidelines, and in the event of any medical complications that may develop among the vulnerable section of employees will it be wrong to hold heartless heads of organisation accountable?
The World Economic Forum portal, highlights how ‘IMF has investigated the feasibility of working from home… warns that women could be particularly hit hard, threatening to undo some of the gains in gender equality made in recent decades. This is because women are disproportionately concentrated in certain hardest-hit sectors, also women carry a heavier burden of child care and domestic chores, while market provision of these services has been disrupted’.
It’s about time our policy makers ensures that support system for women and vulnerable employees is sustained whereby they continue to contribute their share albeit remotely whenever and wherever possible.
