Mercedes-Benz Research And Development India Announces Support To Employees & Community Through Inclusive COVID-19 Relief Initiatives

Mercedes-Benz Research and Development India (MBRDI) announced a slew of initiatives to ensure the health, safety and holistic wellbeing of its employees and the larger community, amidst the second wave of the pandemic. 

Contributing towards COVID-19 relief efforts, the company has collaborated with C-CAMP (Centre for Cellular and Molecular Platforms), the German Consulate, Bengaluru, Rhenus Logistics and Nayonika Eyecare Charitable Trust to procure 110 oxygen concentrators for the hospitals in Karnataka. 

“The health and safety of our employees is a foremost priority and we are committed to it, more so during these difficult times. We’ve taken extensive measures right from virtual medical consultation, COVID-19 care leaves, insurance coverage to vaccination programs to support our employees and their families,” said Manu Saale, Managing Director and CEO, MBRDI. “Empathy is the need of the hour and at MBRDI, we are mindful that the communities around us need to be supported in all possible ways. It is both our honour and duty to strengthen the larger relief efforts with the procurement of oxygen concentrators for the hospitals in Karnataka.” 

Some of the initiatives to support MBRDI employees in staying safe and healthy during the ongoing global pandemic include:

- Covering the cost of COVID-19 vaccination for all its 6000 employees in India, as well as their dependents.

- As part of the Covid-19 home isolation care programme, the company has tied up with Apollo Clinic to provide all-paid medical care and advisory services for two weeks. This programme constitutes daily monitoring, consultation with physicians, diet counselling, physiotherapy sessions including breathing techniques, daily critical vitals checks, and more.

- COVID Kawach, additional insurance cover exclusively for COVID-19 treatment, focusses on a health plan with comprehensive coverage for the employees as well as their dependents.

- As part of its #TogetherWeCan initiative, the company has launched an in-house, virtual response task force called the COVID-19 Warriors. The programme has seen an uproar of support from MBRDI employees volunteering to go above and beyond in assisting colleagues in distress.

- A command center with a 24x7 helpline is set up to provide virtual medical teleconsultation, end-to-end guidance on the doorstep RT-PCR swab collection, and information on hospitals and emergency services providing medical assistance to COVID-19 patients.

- To support and ensure mental and emotional wellbeing, the company’s Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) has stepped up its focus on prevalent topics employees reach out for free counselling on.

- MBRDI also plans to offer free 3 healthy meals delivery to the employees and their families affected by COVID-19 or in quarantine.