Covid-19 Crisis management: How Moldova’s largest companies reorganized their work processes
Switching to remote work, reorganizing jobs, accelerating operational processes digitalisation and improving employees well-being are just some of the actions large companies have taken to meet the challenges of the pandemic.
These issues were addressed in the webinar " Covid-19 Crisis Management ", organized on 28 October 2020, by the Investment Agency in partnership with the International Cooperation Agency of Germany (GIZ). The purpose of the event was to provide relevant and practical information to foreign investors operating in the Republic of Moldova, as well as to all economic agents requesting information on pandemic crisis management. The webinar took place inasmuch as, through its mandate, the Investment Agency is the promoter of Moldova as an investment destination, thus contributing to the economic development of the country.
Rodica Verbeniuc, Director General, Investment Agency: "According to the World Labor Organization, it is estimated that global labor income fell by 10.7 percent or 3.5 trillion US dollars in the first three quarters of the year 2020, compared to the same period in 2019. The largest decrease was in countries with lower average incomes, where labor income losses reached 15.1 percent. Therefore, the webinar series organized by the Investment Agency is an information platform on the solutions and proactive actions that entrepreneurs can take in order to build the resilience of enterprises. Because of the pandemic crisis business management and work processes reorganization are the main aspects companies must take into account in order to continue their activity during the pandemic.
Emil Guțu, competition manager, ACI Partners: “It is important employers to provide motivation and personalized feedback, to maintain communication with employees, through video discussions and teambuilding activities separating communication channels: a work-only liaison channel and another separate channel for informal discussions. At the same time, it must take into account the acceleration of digitization, because it reduces operational costs and offers the possibility of launching new products and technologies. " IT companies adapted very fast and took various measures to ensure the continuity of their work, keeping employees safe.
Daria Bajanova, HR manager, Gilat Satellite Networks: “We have adapted the equipment and work systems according to the new reality, we have updated the information security systems, we have integrated internal communication systems and, last but not least, we have set a computers’ transportation and installation process at the home of employees. We have also organized online trainings with employees and weekly meetings where we discussed how to manage certain slightly more complicated issues. At the same time, we carried out activities in which the families of the employees were involved.”
In addition to the reorganization of work processes, an important aspect is the maintenance of personal relationships with employees, and the organization of various team activities to facilitate their remote work and reduce their negative states.
Sergey Hovelyan, General Director, Coca Cola Hellenic Bottling Company Moldova: “Due to the uncertainty at the beginning of the pandemic, we decided to intensify the information provision on our communication channels. Thus, we organized weekly online meetings and offered our employees access to digital training platforms, such as books and courses delivered by Harvard Business School in order to improve their knowledge. We also insisted on organizing online fitness lessons to maintain the physical and spiritual health of our colleagues.”
The webinar " COVID-19Crisis management " is the 4th event in a series dedicated to investors and economic agents in the Republic of Moldova, in order to adapt more easily to the new reality. Questions and suggestions on crisis management in the context of Covid-19 can be left on the platforms of the Investment Agency - a reliable partner of investors in Moldova. The online event, including the presentation of ACI Partners, can be accessed on the Agency's Facebook page.