(Edited Press Release)
Contact center firm Sykes continues to support essential operations in its Cebu City site as it remains under community quarantine. To ensure employee health and safety, the company enabled employees to work from the comfort of their homes. It also continues to promote mental wellness amid the ensuing crisis.
“Sykes Cebu maintains full operations for its partners and clients while making sure that employees are safe and well taken care of. Employee welfare and well-being in the workplace have always been among our top priorities across all sites,” said Sykes Senior Vice President and General Manager John Sneed.
“Most of our employees are deployed to work at home to allow them to perform their tasks while complying with social distancing protocols and keeping safe and healthy. Rest assured that Sykes remains to be a comfortable, clean, and safe working environment that abides by and implements the national government’s social distancing directives and sanitation protocols,” he added.
Continuous operations
Sykes, which started Cebu City operations in 2003, is proud to say it has never stopped operations in the city since Day 1 of the quarantine. It continues to serve its clients and ensure that employees are provided with the safest work environment. Employees working at home were provided with the proper work equipment they need, like PC sets, headphones, and modem to fulfill their duties.
Meanwhile, for the rest of its staff handling accounts where a work-from-home (WFH) arrangement is not a viable option, Sykes Cebu established Camp Sykes, an employee assistance program designed to provide them with accommodation, whether within office premises or nearby hotels, for their safety and convenience. Employees in the program are provided with free meals, free shuttle service, hygiene kits, and additional incentives and allowances.
Mental well-being in the workplace
Sykes Cebu also conducted its Mental Health Talk held in various sessions wherein a professional talked about and raised awareness on the importance of mental health. The employees were given the right guidance on how and whom to reach out to when coping with mental health concerns during the pandemic. Sykes actively advocates for the mental wellness of its employees, especially now during the months-long quarantine amid the global health crisis.
“Sykes understands that the pandemic may take a toll on an employee’s mental health, which is why we continue to raise awareness about protecting not only their physical health but mental well-being as well. Sykes highly encourages employees to reach out to mental health experts should they feel overwhelmed by this adversity. We have partnered with medical health institutions where our employees can receive benefits that cover even their mental health. We have also provided them with the details of our medical health partners through our social communication platforms to make sure that help is within their reach,” said Sykes Senior Director for District Operations Kris Villaba.