25000 auto executives to work from home to contain the spred of COVID-19

India’s automobile sector will see an unprecedented number of 25,000 office employees working from home for at least two weeks. It is part of protective initiatives being enforced across organizations to curb the Covid-19 outbreak. Although employees working from home often hold desk positions, in an incredibly regulated climate, the factory workers tend to work as they did before. At a crucial moment of the transition from BS-IV to BS-VI, these steps are being taken and the organizations are under pressure to reach annual goals.

Tata Motors was the first to issue an advisory asking around 3000 employees to work from home, late last week. On Tuesday, the Mahindra Group instructed over 7000 employees from the automotive and farm division working from offices to work from home.

Among its peers, Volkswagen Group asked 200 employees, while Fiat Chrysler directed 300 and another 1000 employees from its joint venture company with Tata Motors - Fiat India Automobile Private Limited to work from home. Renault asked 150 to work from home, while 100 executives from M G Motor and 40 executives from Volvo Cars India has received advisory to operate from home.

The biggest contingent however to get a work from home directive are over 15000 executives from the business service division of US carmaker Ford. They have now been asked to work from home.

Ruzbeh Irani, president (group communications & ethics) and chief brand officer at Mahindra explained the group is carefully monitoring the rapidly evolving Covid-19 pandemic and continues to take appropriate actions to ensure the protection of its employees.

"We have incorporated work-from-home as necessary and practical while maintaining continuity of operation. Workers should use a variety of technological resources available to them to promote seamless coordination and agility," Irani said.

The leaders Maruti Suzuki, Hyundai Motor and rivals Honda Cars India, Toyota Kirloskar, Kia Motors have all taken precautionary measures but are yet to take a call on work from home. FCA India said it has permitted over 50% of its staff, from its Mumbai and Pune offices, to work from home, at least until March 31, 2020.