Singapore will exit the circuit breaker when it ends on 1 June 2020, with activities gradually resuming in three phases. As indicated by the authorities, phase 1 will constitute resumption of some social and economic activities, phase 2 will see a broader re-opening of such activities, and by phase 3, we can expect resumption of social, cultural, religious and business gathering within limits. The transition from phase 1 to 2 and 3 will be gradual and calibrated, and depend largely on COVID-19 transmission rates remaining low and stable.
As MOH has cautioned that a resurgence in community transmissions remains high, we will have to continue to go about our businesses and daily lives with care. The taskforce that has been convened within Income to review and determine our way of working post circuit breaker is monitoring the situation very carefully and assessing the needs of our business, staff and customers, with the well-being of staff being a priority.
Here’s what to expect in near-term post circuit breaker, i.e. from 2 June 2020, as we resume some activities and bring additional colleagues back on-premise:
- Staff/functions returning to office
We have prioritised staff in essential and critical functions to return to the office immediately post circuit breaker, i.e. those relying on systems / equipment that cannot be accessed from home, working on sensitive and confidential data (PDPA concerns), and required to enhance efficiency and productivity on-site.
Therefore, on 2 June, only staff from Branches, Contact Centre, Telesales, Partnership Distribution, Life & Health Operations, Corporate Business, finance, Motor CoE, Motor & Plines Operations, Office Services, and IT will return to work at the office. This will constitute about 10% of our total staff strength. The remaining staff (90%) will continue to work from home. Your managers would have shared more details on specific arrangements that affect you and your respective teams.
To show our solidarity with colleagues who will be returning to the office, we will be issuing a welcome care pack to them.
- Safe management measures at the office
Compliant with MOH’s ‘Safe Work’ guidelines, more stringent safety measures are being implemented at all our offices. Please review the precautionary measures indicated below carefully as staff will have to comply with all of them. We have also appointed Safe Management Officers at Income offices and branches to support staff and to ensure a safe work environment at all times.
- Check in and check out using SafeEntry and tap in and out with your staff pass every time you enter or exit Income premises. This is necessary support contact tracing when required.
- Download and activate TraceTogether and keep it on at all times.
- Wear a face mask all the time.
- Comply with assigned staggered seating arrangements and / or working hours to optimise social distancing.
- Avoid congregating at collaboration areas, or other shared spaces at the office, even during breaks and meal times.
- Do not visit other floors within the same office building or other Income offices to minimise co-mingling.
- Use tele- and video-conferencing platforms for discussions and meetings. Please discuss with your Manager if you intend to have face-to-face meetings or use a meeting room in our offices.
- Ensure suppliers have a valid approval to come to or work on our premises, wear a mask and observe safe distancing measures at all time. Please avoid receiving more than one supplier at a time.
- Re-opening of branches
Only the Bras Basah branch will reopen from 2 June with reduced staff strength to attend to customers by appointment only from 9.00am to 5.30pm (Mon – Fri) and 9.00am – 3.00pm on Sat. There will be a priority hour from 9.00am to 10.00am dedicated to serve those who may be more susceptible to infection risks, ie. the elderly and expectant mothers.
To keep everyone safe, all branch staff must wear a mask and will be issued a face shield to use when necessary. Visitors to the branch must check in using SafeEntry and go through temperature screening. Plexiglass will be installed at service counters next week for increased safety during interaction with customers.
Our Motor Service Centre will remain closed and our Orange Force roadside assistance will continue to be suspended until further notice.
- HR Matters
Staff are reminded to fulfil their mandatory block leave (MBL) obligations as soon as possible, and to utilise their leave entitlement to take a break or attend to personal matters.
Staff who are unwell should take medical leave to rest and recover. If you see a doctor and are issued a medical certificate (MC), submit the MC via PeopleSoft in a timely manner following the visit to the doctor. Please do not “doctor-hop” by going to multiple clinics as this may make it difficult for the doctors to assess the duration and severity of your illness and may affect the continuity of your clinical care.
Arrangements will be made for new joiners who have been working from home via a virtual desktop platform to collect their company-issued laptops for a better work experience from home.
Please continue to take your temperature and submit readings twice daily via this online form (temperature).
We will continue to update you on new plans and specific arrangements going forward when they are confirmed.
Meanwhile, please continue to look after yourselves physically, emotionally and mentally. We are mindful of the impact that changes at the workplace can have on working culture and staff morale. Look out for colleagues amongst you that may be having difficulty adjusting, and reach out to them to offer support.
Thank you, and stay safe.
Chen Boon Khing
Head of BCM Workgroup
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