During the virtual celebration of Philippines Best Workplaces™ 2021, DHL Express was hailed as the Philippines’ Best Workplace, for manifesting effective leadership and inspiring people practices, extending genuine care and support to all their employees, especially in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic.
With 98% of its close to a thousand employees claiming that DHL Express is a great workplace, it is remarkable how their leaders and managers maintained a fully-engaged workforce whose daily activities involved risking their health and safety to deliver parcels and engineer logistics to keep the global economy afloat.
Anchored on the theme “Honoring the Heroism of Filipino Workers and Employees,” Great Place to Work® Philippines was proud to bestow the Gold Standard of Recognition to 10 deserving companies, with DHL Express bagging #1 for many laudable reasons.
DHL Express was among the first to feel the impact caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. Despite facing an overhaul of their processes to cooperate with lockdowns and quarantine protocols, the organization’s leaders took a strong stance to provide protection, beyond-standard benefits, and physical, mental, emotional and financial support to their employees.
The organization’s swift yet calculated emergency response, including the setting up of dedicated Business Continuity Plan teams, composed of business heads and line managers, who ensured the brand’s compliance with regulatory requirements and resolved operational challenges to adjust to the pandemic.
With a workplace culture of open innovation and inclusion, where most of its employees are considered as essential front liners, DHL Express found ways to protect and empower their people to work. Among their initiatives include launching an employee communication mobile application to promote engagement across organization, implementing alternate schedules, providing temporary accommodations, arranging for free door-to-door shuttle service, distributing free meals at the start of the lockdown when most food establishments were closed, and keeping their employees informed though their version of TED Talks and Medical Bulletins.
Supporting their workforce was not limited to materials or physical arrangements. DHL Express formulated a system in place in case any employee reports a positive Covid-19 result. This system outlines a step-by-step response to be executed to maintain the safety of their people and facilities, but also providing care for the employee who tested positive.
More so, company executives including their OIC Country Manager, HR Director and concerned Functional Director actively and personally check upon and call infected employees to know their further needs as they battle out the virus.
Aside from assisting their infected staff members, they also launched a structured approach such as contact tracing wherein the Security Team interviews confirmed cases and monitor their close contacts within the past 2 days prior the onset of symptoms.
DHL Express accelerated the need to monitor its workforce by forming a dedicated Medical Team that consistently calls and checks the status of all reported sick and on-quarantine employees, providing them with medical advice and assistance in scheduling their medical checkup and laboratory tests, including Covid tests.
On National Heroes Day in August 2020, the brand promoted volunteerism through helping the front liners deliver shipments during long weekends. The Country Manager and other employees were quick to volunteer their support and lessen the load on their colleagues. Even when faced with seemingly unsurmountable challenges, DHL Express stood firm and never stopped “connecting people, improving lives.”
DHL Express Philippines Country Manager, Nurhayati Abdullah celebrates the commendation, “Receiving this recognition from an esteemed organization such as Great Place to Work® drives us to continuously improve as ‘Employer of Choice’ – enhancing our engagement with our Internal Superheroes, honing our agility to ensure their safety and wellbeing, and honoring their contributions to our network and our customers.”
Moreover, Karen Angulo, a Field Sales Executive for DHL Express, proudly shares, “Our leaders have been very open and understanding of what we are going through. They express their love and concern by making sure that we are equipped physically, mentally and emotionally. They made a holistic approach in ensuring our wellness.”
To watch the Philippines Best Workplaces™ 2021 virtual celebration, click here.
