IT giants fund millions of vaccinations for India staff and families
A cohort of IT consulting giants in India including Accenture, Tata Consultancy Services, Cognizant and Infosys have committed to help vaccinate their entire India staff and families/dependents – amounting to more than a million doses.
With significant shares of elderly and vulnerable groups vaccinated, India began phase three of its Covid-19 immunisation drive on March 1st – aimed at individuals between the ages of 45 and 60. Millions of employees in India’s monumental IT services sectors have now been offered a token of support, with employers pledging to finance the doses.
Sent to work from home early on during the pandemic, employees in the sector have enjoyed myriad benefits to navigate a year of unprecedented challenges. Funded vaccinations are the latest part of the support package.
Accenture
Accenture’s India headcount exceeds 200,000, and vaccinations have been offered to staff and support personnel who are part of its medical benefits programme – and their families.
“As we continue to navigate the pandemic, nothing is more important than the health and well-being of our people,” said Accenture India chairperson and senior managing director Rekha Menon, who added that recommendations from international health organisations and local authorities have emphasised the safety and effectiveness of the vaccine.
Tata Consultancy Services
The circa 400,000 plus employees of Tata Consultancy Services globally have received end-to-end Covid-19 treatment support since the start of the pandemic, from testing to hospital care. This is in addition to an employee mental and emotional health programme – TCS Carers.
“We remain committed to the well being and care of all our associates and their families and this will continue in the vaccination phase as well,” said a TCS spokesperson to Business Standard.
Cognizant
More than 200,000 Cognizant staff in India have enjoyed a full-time support hotline, extra leave for quarantine and treatment, medical insurance for Covid-19, and funding to set up personal internet connections through 2020. The entire 200,000-strong India workforce, plus 50,000 support and contracted staff, and all of the above’s families and dependents, will now receive vaccination funding from Cognizant – amounting to a total of 600,000 doses.
“We are proud of the several actions we took over the past year to address the challenges faced by our employees in rising to the situation with empathy, initiative and courage,” said Cognizant India chairman and managing director Rajesh Nambiar.
Infosys
Infosys chief operating officer Pravin Rao has announced paid vaccinations for the firm’s 220,000 plus employees in India. “Infosys is looking at partnering with health care providers to vaccinate employees and their immediate families as eligible under the guidelines given by the government of India and as per approved procedures and timelines.”
“Infosys will cover the vaccination cost for the employee and immediate family as part of our focus on health and wellness.”
In related news, Big Four accounting and advisory firm PwC recently announced an extra two-weeks’ pay in March for its entire 15,000-strong India team, as a token of appreciation for rallying efforts during the pandemic.
