The Hindu Business Line : Chennai IT, BPO companies on ‘red alert’ mode

Chennai, Aug. 10 It’s Red Alert in information technology and BPO companies in Chennai to tackle the H1N1 Swine Flu. Doctors are available on call and masks are being stocked up in companies. For instance, the US-based Perot Systems has one lakh masks in stock. It is also about to procure a temperature scanner as a precautionary measure.

Precaution is the only way to combat the flu, said Mr Vardhman Jain, Managing Director, Business Process Solutions - India and Manila, Perot Systems. The company has temporarily banned travel between its Chennai and Coimbatore offices and all communications are through video-conference. Doctors are available on call, and a nurse is available in the Ambattur facility. A central control room has also been set up, he said. Perot has also made it compulsory for every individual to wear a mask while entering the campus, and sanitizer dry fluids are made available in every floor, he said.

Syntel Inc, a BPO company, has asked its employees returning from high-risk countries such as the US and Mexico to compulsorily go on a two-day paid leave for a check-up from a company doctor. It has also issued an advisory to employees to avoid travelling to Mumbai and Pune unless it is very urgent. A pandemic response team has been set up and the company is about to procure masks in Chennai. Fumigation of the campus is under way and there are posters across the campus on the flu, and precautions to be taken to avoid it, said Mr N. NR Sharavanan, General Manager and Head (Administration), Syntel.

It is business as usual at Allsec Technologies Ltd, a BPO company. Things are under control. A doctor is available on call and visits the campus every day, said an official.

Travel advisory

A spokesperson for Cognizant Technology Solutions said the company has advised its associates to undertake only essential travel and defer all other types of travel to locations worldwide affected by swine flu. It has also advised its associates to defer travel in case they develop cold, cough and fever on the day of travel, as passenger screening at various airports may affect their travel schedules.

Employees have elaborate information about the causes and symptoms of the flu and the recommended health practices to be observed in order to ensure protection.

Cognizant is conducting sessions on proactive precautions and available treatment for H1N1 Flu and answering employee questions. A section on the Intranet gives information about the epidemic and safeguards against it.

The US-based software company has also set up a toll-free number to support its employees and their families. This number is staffed 24/7 and supported by qualified physicians and doctors, the spokesperson said.

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