Fighting Challenges in the Steel Industry Amidst the Coronavirus Pandemic

 

The coronavirus pandemic of 2020 has come to be regarded as one of the most deadly situations. Affecting the people of not just one country but also the world over, the COVID-19 virus has created a fear among people. In the beginning of 2020, when the lockdown was imposed, people feared the challenges brought on by this pandemic. Along with affecting the mental and physical health of the people, the economy has also been affected.

Neeraj Kochhar, Viraj Profiles, opines that many industries shared the challenges they were facing and how hard it has been to overcome them. Among these industries, the steel industry has not been new when it comes to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic. Mr. Kochhar further adds that running his company, Viraj Profiles, amidst the coronavirus has been like travelling down a rough road. By taking a thoughtful approach, he shares how he has fought the COVID-19 challenges in the steel industry and kept his company running throughout the pandemic.

Overcoming the Barriers to Travel During the Coronavirus Pandemic

As the coronavirus started to emerge, it was realized that controlling the rising number of cases could be possible by imposing certain restrictions. Considering the same, many restrictions were announced for the public. Among all of them, restrictions on travel and transportation were also made. In India as well, these restrictions on travel and transportation were observed. While these restrictions had been helpful in controlling the rising number of cases, industries had been getting affected by it.

Mr. Kochhar says that his employees were unable to come to work due to lack of public transports. The production of stainless steel products and many other operations demanded the physical presence of the employees. Neeraj Kochhar, Viraj Profiles, adds that his company introduced free transportation services for all his employees. By doing so, the problems with respect to travelling during the coronavirus pandemic were faced very well. Since the introduction of these services, the company has been ensuring that the mode of transport used is regularly sanitized, kept clean, and helps in maintaining social distancing within while the employees commute to home or work.

Understanding and Working on Mental Health and Physical Health Measures

Neeraj Raja Rochhar's biography suggests that the dedication of the employees matters the most for a company's success. The same mantra has always guided the founder of Viraj Profiles. He understands that the conditions at work need to be such that neither the mental health nor physical health of the employees gets affected. Prior to the emergence of the coronavirus pandemic, taking care of mental and physical health was not as big a challenge as it is now. Many employees of the company had been informing about the extreme fear of the virus. To curb the same, Mr. Kochhar found it helpful to initiate meditation sessions for its employees.

It should be noted that in the stainless steel industry, labour of several types is required. Efforts of both physical and mental kinds are needed for running the companies in this industry. The employees of Viraj Profiles inform that ever since the meditation sessions have been started in the company, their fear of COVID-19 has reduced. Additionally, this has also showered positive impacts on the physical health of the employees.

Helping the Employees to Adapt to the New Normal

Neeraj Kochhar, Viraj Profiles, is of the opinion that the COVID-19 pandemic has changed everything that once seemed normal to everyone. Roaming freely without masks, travelling via public transports with no fear, bonding with friends, attending social events, and other such activities were absolutely normal once. Amidst the pandemic of 2020, the "new" normal has emerged.

Adapting to the new normal has not been easy for everyone. Mr. Kochhar expresses that he has greatly encouraged his employees to accept the changes with a positive mindset. When they will be positively accepted, the employees will find it easy to adapt to the new normal and prevent themselves from fearing the virus or the challenges brought about by it. This has helped them in working well in the stainless steel industry amidst the pandemic.

In Brief

In stainless steel companies, the physical presence of employees can be necessary at times. The restrictions on travel and transport in the pandemic limit the employees from coming to work. The conditions brought about by COVID-19 have caused a rising fear and affected the health of everyone. The pandemic has created a new normal which hat been easy to adjust to. Fighting these and various other challenges impacting the stainless steel industry, Neeraj Kochhar, Viraj Profiles, has come up with thoughtful solutions to keep his company running. With the functioning of his company, the stainless steel industry has become more strengthened than before.