Companies cut working hours in half due to crisis in Ecuador

Payroll readjustment, shorter working hours, new hires and unexpected innovations have been the challenges companies have faced since quarantine began last March.

Some companies made their debut with teleworking and looked for ways to implement it. Others already had this experience and their activity during the confinement had no problems.

Companies cut working hours in half due to crisis in Ecuador

Gabriela Soria is a director of human talent at Audit Corporate, an audit and finance consultancy with 10 years. She says that the first months of the pandemic were difficult and ensures that if they had not reduced the working day, the result would be different.

“All the companies we manage based on a portfolio of customers and payments, in March most paid that month and the next had to take action,” he says.

He says that among the measures taken, two people were suspended and the workday was reduced from 40 to 30 hours per week in order to protect income. “ We define by mutual business agreement to safeguard 25% less than salary in order to finance the company. What this measure does is to prevent the flow, ”he points out.

Audit Corporate had 20 people and 14 are now active, working remotely and in person. She had to make cuts, which were mostly interns and two people from the maintenance and messaging area. The latter now bill.

According to Soria, the decision to cut was made because they were non-regular and other automated activities. Currently all staff have reduced their working day to 50% since the Humanitarian Law came into force. Also, the company had to migrate to webinars (zoom sessions) to cover fixed costs.

A quick investment in technological infrastructure fell to the SEK Ecuador International University , located in Quito.

“The first few weeks were difficult, adaptive, we were about to start our academic semester and we had to run to start classes. (…) We had to make significant investments in technology infrastructure to be able to keep all academic activity online, ”says Nadia Rodríguez , rector of the institution.

Rodríguez describes the situation as a challenge from thinking about who reactivates themselves, how the procedure is done and how far this modality will be reached. He believes that in October and November there would be a full revival.

SEK International University has a payroll of 200 people: 14 work in person, 20 mixed and 166 telework. Those of face-to-face continuously correspond to the maintenance area.

“We have had to reorganize schedules, shifts and take sanitary precautions and protocol,” he points out, adding that the crisis does not rule out carrying out bank financing in the future.

On the other hand, Glovo and Roche Ecuador increased their staff and teleworking did not take them by surprise.

María Pía Orihuela , general manager of Roche Ecuador, assures that from March to June they registered eleven hires and all work from home. They underwent the usual worry tests and serology (antibody detection test against COVID-19).

“We have maintained our payroll without any impact, that is, we have not made any restructuring or adjustments,” he says.

For the company, teleworking was not new, they have already applied it since 2019 and they plan to reinforce it . “At Roche, from the first moment we learned that the pandemic was starting, we implemented our crisis management plan, which we always have ready, from there we began to guarantee the continuity of supply of our products. Before quarantine becomes official, we began to further strengthen the teleworking modality that we had already started since August 2019, precisely to try to minimize the impact of the pandemic on our people, and at the same time maintain business continuity ” , He says.

It indicates that there were several challenges such as providing emotional, occupational stability and physical well-being to the worker, not interrupting treatment to patients and giving support to doctors.

Meanwhile, Glovo increased its delivery partners. Before quarantine, it registered 1,500 and now there are 2,500 nationwide, according to Daniel Arévalo , the company’s general manager.

Disinfection processes are carried out in every Glovo delivery. Photo: Courtesy.

“ Glovo experienced a positive wave within COVID-19, we were one of the few industries that remained operational. We were able to contribute so that countless other businesses and restaurants can continue to operate through our delivery services, ”he says.

The company has several areas such as marketing, finance, operations and has a supermarket in Quito, dedicated to distribution. Now his payroll is 33 people out of 35 that were. Delivery partners invoice.

According to Arévalo, there was a minimum cut of two people because those tasks, which he preferred not to specify, became “automated”. “There was a small decrease, from the 35 that we were to 33, positions that were not essential for the company and luckily we did not have to reduce hours, payroll,” he explains.

However, they face the challenge of renegotiating office leases or grace periods: “We still do not plan to return, our work may be remote until we have a regional Glovo disposition,” he comments, adding that of the 32 people, only one is face-to-face in Quito.

Steps to a safe return to work

The return to the ‘new normal’ is a challenge for both companies and workers, as it seeks to create safe spaces, without the risk of contracting the Covid-19.

Some cantons have already gone from red to yellow traffic lights and it is important to reactivate with caution. These are four recommendations Adecco makes to return to activities safely, not only at the health level, but also emotionally and socially.

First, maintain effective communication. In crisis it is essential that leaders and their teams are in communication for the development of telework, for example. Likewise, concern about the health of employees upon returning to the offices is another issue that may cause concern. And some have already carried out rapid tests on their reactivated collaborators.

The maintenance area of ​​SEK International University is active. Photo: Courtesy

Second, maintain physical distancing protocols. Its application will depend on the availability of space and operational requirements, however it may be a staggered opening, rotating schedules to reduce contact between people and traffic in common areas, entrances and exits of workers. For lunch hours, groups are advised.

In addition, they suggest limiting visits and resorting to digital platforms; reorganize the office spaces respecting the 2 meters distance.

Third, for those who have successfully implemented telework during isolation, it is important to continue the dynamic to avoid contagion.

And fourth, before the return, supplies such as gloves, masks, disinfectant gel, among others, must be delivered to the workers. And apply protocols such as cleaning and health monitoring. (I)