“The COVID-19 pandemic has caused many changes in people’s lives. Working from home and taking care of the children and the household, or drastic limitation of social contacts are just a few of the challenges that we face today. Naturally, we are concerned about the safety, health and well-being of ourselves and our loved ones during the pandemic, and we do not know what the future will look like and what other concerns there will be. We have therefore ensured that our employees do not have to worry about their jobs and financial stability,” says Mindaugas Dacys, General Manager of the company in the Baltic States.
The company undertakes to keep jobs and will not fire employees on its own initiative in Lithuania and in other countries where Philip Morris International operates. Besides, any restructuring plans have been suspended world-wide.
The company has also undertaken to pay a total fixed salary to the employees who are currently unable to perform all or part of their job duties for various reasons. This applies to those who are incapable of working due to illness, childcare or self-isolation, and to those who belong to a high-risk group or have chronic conditions. The company will compensate for the difference between the social insurance benefit (related to illness or care) and their basic salary during the crisis. Pregnant women and people aged over 60 who are unable to work remotely due to the nature of their work have been instructed by the employer to stay at home. They will also receive their total salary.
The company will pay one-time bonuses of EUR 540 (before taxes) to everyone who, due to the nature of their work, must be at the workplace, in order to thank the employees, who helped to ensure the continuity of operation of the factory in Klaipėda during this period. In addition, all employees of the factory receive free meals during the pandemic, and 50 meals are delivered every day by Philip Morris Lietuva to nursing homes and people with disabilities.
According to Mr Dacys, the company’s employees in the Baltic States had the opportunity to work from home even before the declaration of the state of emergency. This not only reduced their contact with other people, but also provided them with the opportunity to take care of their children who could not attend educational institutions that have been closed.
The company also takes care of the employees’ safety outside working hours. In the Baltic States, they were provided with personal protection kits that include protective masks, disinfectant liquid, soap, and hand cream.
“Health and safety of our employees and their families is our top priority. We constantly inform our colleagues about changes in work organization, implemented measures and decisions that we take,” says Mr Dacys. He also notes that the results of the employees’ survey conducted a couple of weeks ago show that 96% of employees in Lithuania believe that the company properly takes care of them during the crisis.
The obligations of Philip Morris International to its employees are a part of an extensive support program for communities affected by the COVID-19 crisis around the world. The company has been actively involved in fighting against the pandemic since the beginning of the outbreak. It develops and promotes various initiatives in more than 60 countries in which it operates.
In addition, the company’s employees volunteer to help the elderly, low-income and other socially vulnerable people in many countries, and some factories produce protective masks and hand sanitizers for local communities.
To date, Philip Morris International has decided to allocate more than USD 24 million to fight the pandemic. The company intends to increase support, taking into account the needs of communities.
