Flipkart takes steps for employees to combat COVID-19

Pune, March 19, 2020: As India comes together in the fight against COVID-19, it becomes imperative for every institution, public and private alike, to take the lead and implement best measures and practices to help the consumer and business ecosystem stride through these tough times. In a statement recently, globally the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) made an unprecedented private sector call to action to tackle COVID-19.

The WHO further stated, the COVID-19 pandemic is a global health and societal emergency that requires effective immediate action by governments, individuals and businesses. All businesses have a key role to play in minimising the likelihood of transmission and impact on society. Early, bold and effective action will reduce short- term risks to employees and long-term costs to businesses and the economy.

In a wide-spread country like India, where businesses were quick to spring into action calling for employees to work from home and safeguarding their ground staff, the government too took a steady lead by closing its border. A result of these quarantine and precautionary measures, the whole of SouthEast Asia is seeing a change in traditional retail and e-commerce. The India story is no different.

Here is a look at one such leading e-commerce brand, Flipkart that sprung into action on March 6, 2020, within a few days of COVID-19 instances being reported in the country. Taking several best practices into account, the firm took the following actions as preventative measures:

Employees & Supply Chain Staff

Continuously monitoring the situation and have issued an advisory to employees across all establishments, which includes a ban on domestic and international business travel
Encouraging employees to work from home if they are unwell, promoting the use of video conferences for meetings, including job interviews
Temporarily avoiding events and training programs that require large gatherings as a precautionary measure
Based on the Ministry of Health guidelines, issued guidelines and measures to be undertaken by employees and their families, keeping their safety in mind
For the supply chain and logistics network, organized more than 3,000 awareness sessions covering over 100k employees across all facilities on how employees and partners can minimize their exposure by following simple precautionary measures
Wishmasters are provided with sanitizers and other required equipment for use. Additionally, the firm is keeping track of impacted areas to minimize their exposure
Delivery executives are covered with both life and medical insurance, and anyone who contracts COVID-19 or is placed under quarantine will be provided leave with pay and other benefits.

Supply Chain logistics

Temperature screening using infra-red thermometers has been made mandatory for all employees, vendors and visitors. Persons with suspected flu symptoms are advised to return home.
All facilities are thoroughly cleaned with disinfectant to ensure a safe work environment. Deep fumigation is carried out as and when required.
The firm is ensuring availability of antibacterial soap and hand sanitizers at the entry point of each facility
There are advisories to all employees and staff regarding washing of hands and hygiene measures before entering the warehouses, fulfillment centers and other premises
Frequent sanitisation of surfaces at entry point is being done, including that of biometric machines which are sanitized every two minutes. This precautionary measure is extended to trolley handles, lift switches, equipment and door knobs
Educational posters in regional languages are spread across the facilities to remind staff constantly of safety measures

Seller Community

The Flipkart Seller Hub is continuously in touch with Flipkart sellers to promote preventive healthcare and hygiene. Teams have communicated necessary precautions in order to ensure the health and safety of sellers
The Flipkart marketplace team has appealed to the seller community to ensure that products like masks, sanitizers, antiseptic liquids and handwash are made available to our customers at all times at the best possible prices. They have been advised to dispatch these products on priority
To ensure faster delivery, sellers have been advised to inward these products to smart warehouses and Flipkart warehouses
Given the high demand of products, Flipkart has issued advisories to sellers to keep the best interests of customers in mind and ensure they are pricing essential products appropriately in this fight against COVID-19.  In case of breach of advisory, the seller is delisted from the platform

Consumer Education

Encouraging customers to minimize exposure to wishmasters. Customers have the option of requesting the delivery partner to leave the package at their doorstep (in case of online payment) or at the security booth of their residential complexes in line with their complex’s guidelines.
Flipkart is working on making additional delivery options such as contactless delivery available to customers in select locations
Ensure adequate availability of consumer sanitary products like hand sanitizers, gloves and masks through sellers on the platform
Flipkart Travel, through a partnership with ixigo, is offering full refund (including convenience fee) on cancellation and rescheduling of air tickets booked on Flipkart Travel. This is applicable on travel to selected countries up to March 31, 2020