Delhi's air quality remains severe and is expected to worsen over the next few days. The Air Quality Index (AQI) breached the 500 mark in several parts of the National Capital Region, prompting the closure of primary schools. Delhi's Anand Vihar AQI reading was 999 on November 3 night. A reading of 150 is considered unhealthy.
What measures are employers taking?
In response to the worsening situation, several companies have implemented measures to protect their employees' health and safety. These measures include:
| Work from home | Deloitte, KPMG, Panasonic, BigBasket, BluSmart, Zepto, and CIEL HR Services have all allowed their employees to work from home when possible. |
| Air purifiers | Many companies have provided air purifiers to their offices. |
| Masks | Companies are providing masks to their employees, both for use at work and at home. |
| Doctor on call | Some companies have made doctors available to their employees on call. |
| Well-being day off | Deloitte is offering its employees a "well-being day off" if they are experiencing adverse symptoms due to the air pollution. |
| Subsidized rates for eco-friendly transportation | BluSmart is offering subsidized rates to its employees to encourage them to use eco-friendly transportation. |
| Flexibility | MakeMyTrip allows its employees to take time off if needed due to the air pollution. |
How are companies addressing the causes of air pollution?
Some businesses are also attempting to address the underlying causes of air pollution in addition to these efforts. For example, Deloitte is working with the Haryana government on a project to manage crop residue, aiming to reduce stubble burning, which is a significant contributor to winter air pollution.
The corporate response to Delhi's air crisis is a positive development. By implementing measures to protect their employees' health and safety, and by working to address the root causes of air pollution, companies can make a real difference in improving air quality in Delhi.
Facts and Figures:
Here are some additional data points that you may find relevant:
- The PM 2.5 concentration in Delhi was 94 on Friday evening, or 6.3 times above the recommended limit given by the WHO 24 hours air quality guidelines value.
- Over a dozen companies have outlined initiatives in response to the worsening situation, the Economic Times reported.
- MakeMyTrip’s chief HR officer Yuvaraj Srivastava said the firm hadn’t implemented specific measures for the current situation but flexibility was an unspoken norm, allowing employees to take time off if needed.
