Interesting observations found in a survey “Impact of COVID-19 on People and Industries” conducted during the March 29th to April 29th by a Hyderabad based Husys Consulting Limited, an HR Function Management Company, headquartered in Hyderabad. Husys conducted a quick Pulse Survey to know the impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on People due to Business Disruption.
  The survey by Hyderabad based Husys Consulting Limited, India's first listed HR Company on the NSE Emerge SME platform (Ticker: HUSYSLTD). It covered 500 plus companies across India and across cross-section of industries such as -
IT & ITES Product &Services: 45%
Manufacturing & Capital Intensive and Allied Industries: 40%
Modern Retail/Online & Other Businesses: 15%
 
Shared by Gundlapally Ramalinga Reddy, Founder, Chairman & Managing Director, Husys Consulting Limited in a press note issued to the media in India today, it outlined the highly affected Industries and includes: Aviation, Hotel Restaurant & Tourism, Auto Dealerships, Ceramic Tiles, Gems & Jewellery, Retail, Shipping, Ports & Port Services, Seafood and Poultry and Microfinance Institutions.Employees Strength included 21% (105 Companies) with 500+ people, 16% (80 Companies) with 51-100 people while 40% (200 Companies) for less than 50 people.

The few Key Observations of the respondents are:

2% of CEOs surveyed felt that it was not appropriate to give paid leaves to employees during the lockdown as advised by the government. Only 28% felt it was appropriate. Further, they questioned the double standard of the governments. When governments can slash or defer salaries their employees, why can't private business houses are allowed. When governments can do this, why can’t we, they wanted to know.

 

For 54% of the Participating Companies, Work from Home seemed a possibility though some faced challenges of productivity due to connectivity issues & for smaller firms Data Security was one of the major concerns.

Was WFH (Work From Home) a Success: Out of 270 Companies, 159 Companies implemented WFH 100% immediately, 57 Companies could manage 70% and about 57 Companies were able to execute less than 50% which resulted in adding stress on Business Continuity due to Reduced Revenues & Unsatisfied Clients.

Lockdown impacted especially the Startups, SME’s in India with an impact of 60% to 90% for 350 Companies on day 1 & for significant 110 Companies the pandemic affected 100% for organisations of more than 500 people

100 Companies accounting 22% of survey responded the Business Impact is Upwards of 30% up to 60%

17% Companies did not pay the Senior Management Salaries at all with 8% Middle Management not receiving salaries & with 4% people receiving up to 30% Salary, 8% people receiving up to 50% Salary, 9% people receiving up to 75% Salary
77% of Employees received salary in full with 25% of reduction in March Month salary for 9% & Rest paid in full with 24% Companies stating April to May No Pay/Can’t pay 

More than 50% of paid companies reduced from 47% (No. of Companies) to 34.34% (No. of Companies) for the month of May assuming no stimulus package from Govt.

Considering the solutions in this Pandemic, 23% (120-Companies) Considering for Reducing Salaries & Staff, another 12% (95 Companies) to layoff/Terminate people, 24% to reduce some & of the salaries & another 29% to maintain the Status Quo.

 More Actionable ideas include More people in Sales & focus on Revenue, Reduce cost on Travel, Vehicles, Rent, Engagement Activities, Loaning people to other Cos, WFH continuity for some & Onsite called back to Offshore.
Definitive Solutions by Business includes 115 Companies reporting No Further Increments, No new Hiring, Focus on more responsibilities on existing staff.

130 Companies to Increase No. of Hours & Adjustment of Leaves & Leave without Pay, While Others to look at GIG Workers, New Business Models, Build New products, Improved Automation.

SME’s when asked whom they approach for advice in difficult times, 55% accounted for from well-wishers coupled with their own Decision making. 29% to go to the Specialist Advisory with the Government Advisory for less than 12%
On Govt’s Advice for paid leaves for Employees during lockdown, 72% CEO feels not Appropriate, only 28% mentioned as appropriate.