May 11, 2020

Dear Sherus,

I trust you and your family are well and taking all possible care to stay safe in these difficult times.

The government has extended the six-week nationwide lockdown by another two weeks to control the spread of the novel Coronavirus, which continues to spread and claim lives across India. At the same time, the authorities have eased some restrictions to protect the livelihoods of the people. Thus, private offices in red and orange zones of the country have been allowed to operate with 33% of their strength with the remaining working from home.

This means Sharekhan too can open up slowly where it is legal and safe to open up. Till last week 99% of the company’s total staff worked from home (WFH). Our network achieved a near 100% strike rate with WFH. We have finalised the unlocking plan for Sharekhan and intend to do it in a phased manner. We want to start opening up the head offices and branches but with caution and only on business need basis, at least for the next couple of weeks.

We need to understand that this is not the time to take unnecessary risks but to have a very balanced and practical approach so as to ensure both, business continuity as well as employee safety. We have to adhere to all directives from the central and state governments and local authorities as well as all company and group recommendations.

We have decided to act cautiously and not allow employees to work from office if there is no immediate business need. We will need to ensure that we continue to provide a safe and secured environment to the critical staff that are already working from head office locations in Mumbai and some branches. Even after the lockdown is revoked, we must try and take baby steps and slowly ramp up the count of employees who can be allowed to work from office. We are spread across the length and breadth of India and each branch or office will be unique and the reopening approach will differ depending on the local conditions.

Most of us need to get used to the fact that we shall continue to work from home for a couple of weeks more after the lockdown ends. We will be assessing the situation at regular intervals and taking a call on the same.

We are constantly monitoring the situation along with your managers and will be coming up with a list of branches as well as staff who can resume work from office. Each of the selected employees shall be informed individually by the manager well in advance.

While your managers will be ensuring strict compliance of the checklist provided to them by the Human Resources department to maintain the safety standards at the workplace, you, as an employee, will also need to ensure your own safety as well as that of your colleagues. You are also provided with a list of dos that need to be adhered to at all times:

• Fill and submit a self-declaration form stating your health status to your manager and the Human Resources department before you start working from office.
• Download the Coronavirus tracker app, Arogya Setu. No employee shall be allowed to enter a Sharekhan office unless the government mobile application shows his or her status as safe.
• Strictly adhere to the social distancing norm of maintaining minimum six feet from the other people at all times – while traveling, at office and in the meeting rooms, cafeteria, washrooms, etc.
• Wear mask as well as maintain strict hygiene at all times.
• Inform your manager immediately in case you or anyone around you at work develops COVID-19 symptoms.

Employee safety will be our top priority as we reopen our head offices and network gradually. Sharekhan is committed to protecting the health of its staff and all of us need to work together to provide a safe workplace to all the employees resuming work from office. With your help, I am sure we will soon get over these difficult times and slowly but surely get back to complete normalcy of the pre-lockdown times.

Thank you.

Best regards,
Stefan Groening
Director and COO