Alphamega spends €1 million on employee and client Covid safety

In the wake of the Covid-19 outbreak in 2020, and to protect their employees and clientele, Alphamega Hypermarkets has spent €1 million on a series of safety measures, while promoting specific actions aimed at best managing the situation and limiting the spread of the pandemic.

An estimated 2.8 million people worldwide lose their life each year due to work-related accidents and diseases. As stipulated in Article 23 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, work health and safety are fundamental human rights. From the quarries and the first factories of the 19th century to the digital revolution taking place in all walks of everyday economic life and production, ensuring safe working conditions still is of paramount importance.

And in the midst of a global pandemic, these principles become even more important, not only for employees, but also for employers. During a time of increased uncertainty and various challenges, preventing the further spread of the coronavirus in the workplace is imperative, both to protect the health of workers as well as for the safety of the wider business continuity.

For this reason, Alphamega created a Covid-19 management team and set up task forces, while also keeping staff briefed via video presentations on the protection and hygiene measures they need to follow, the possible symptoms of the virus, and what they should do if they contract the virus.

At the same time, the company is always updating its employees in a timely manner regarding all new decrees and protocols announced by the Ministry of Health, providing staff with the chance to ask the company’s Occupational Physician any questions or concerns regarding the coronavirus. Additionally, Alphamega has also set up a mental health helpline for its staff members.

It should also be noted that the company covers the cost of PCR tests for all newly-recruited employees, while, since October, it has been offering free rapid tests for all staff on a weekly basis, undertaken by qualified and approved nursing staff within its premises. Here it should be said that Alphamega Hypermarkets is the first company to introduce the new type of nasal test in Cyprus, which it has been administering to all employees since January.

“The cost of the measures taken by the company in 2020 to protect its staff, and customers who visit its stores, amounted to €1m,” noted Alphamega Hypermarkets’ HR Manager, Marios Antoniou, adding that, “it is the duty of every company to ensure the health of its staff, its customers and society.”

Moreover, it should be pointed out that when it comes to employees who contract Covid-19, or who are reported as a close contact of a confirmed case in the workplace, the company pays their salary in full, while also sending them a “goody bag” with various essential items.

Antoniou observed that Alphamega Hypermarkets’ employees have been on the frontline of the pandemic and continue to selflessly serve the increased needs of society.

“As a company, the least we could do was to ensure that they will be working in a healthy and safe environment, but also compensate them for their contribution, by offering them an additional bonus for their services,” he said.

“In addition, our colleagues who took part in the Task Force in April 2020 were given gift vouchers, as way to recognise and thank them for their contribution during such a difficult time.

“With the arrival of the new year, we continued to strictly adhere to all protective measures for our staff, and we will continue to take additional measures where necessary. Our people, are our company’s most valuable asset.”