Veteran author and psychologist, Noam Shpancer once said; “Mental Health is not a destination but a process. It is about how you drive, not where you’re going”. At a time when Sri Lankans are facing multiple stresses due to the ongoing economic crisis, understanding how external pressures can affect your mental wellbeing, and being able to find ways to stay positive and productive is now more important than ever.
With this in mind, Hemas Pharmaceuticals, Sri Lanka’s largest pharmaceutical distributor, has taken steps to instil a positive mind-set among employees by encouraging them to be part of the solution – bringing about the much-discussed system change first in their own lives and in the workplace, and thereby in the country.
The company launched the ‘Be the Solution’ campaign to encourage employees to make small changes in their daily lives that add up to make a big difference. The multiple, long-term initiatives are designed to foster a healthier lifestyle, an energy-conscious outlook and an overall positive work environment, setting an example to the business community and the general public.
Commenting on the initiative, Jude Fernando, Managing Director, Hemas Pharmaceuticals and Hemas Surgicals & Diagnostics said: “We ourselves must be the change that we call for, and the time has come to reconsider how we, as individuals, can lead a behavioural transformation for the betterment of the country. We spend a significant amount of our lives at work, so it’s critical that we begin this transformation there and go above and beyond our call of duty to inspire our co-workers and make it a better place for everyone. It is the small steps we take as individuals that will multiply when practised as a group, resulting in a larger and more genuine impact. Together with my team, I am thrilled to be introducing this innovative approach to being our own solution; we hope to continue setting an example during these trying times and to be a source of strength to our Mother Lanka.”
Staying true to the core purpose of the Hemas Holdings Group, one of the key priorities of the Hemas Pharmaceuticals’ ‘Be the Solution’ campaign is to encourage healthful living. As a result, the company was among the very first local companies to officially inaugurate their ‘Cycling Club’, encouraging employees to explore sustainable transportation and emphasising its positive impact to other corporates.
Moreover, the company introduced several other initiatives to motivate employees to maintain their physical and mental wellbeing. These include ‘Why Wait to Elevate’ which inspires employees to take the stairs whenever possible and burn a few calories instead of waiting for the elevator. ‘No Meeting Wednesdays’ creates an environment with no internal and physical meetings scheduled for the day, and ‘Dress Casual as Usual’ promotes a better work life balance.
The ‘Be the Solution’ programme also focuses on motivating employees to be more energy-conscious with initiatives such as ‘If there is Sight, no need of that Light’, which calls for all lights to be turned off between 9am and 4pm, allowing daylight to be used whenever possible. ‘The Degree that Counts’ initiative requests employees to have all air conditioners set to 25-26°C at all times, encouraging them to further save energy as much as possible.
“Everything we do has an effect on the lives of our colleagues, families, and society as a whole. Hemas Pharmaceuticals wishes the people of the country a bright future, and we hope to stand with them as we always have,” added Mr. Fernando.
Furthermore, Hemas Pharmaceuticals has encouraged home-based cultivation and Biogas projects as part of this campaign. The latest initiative, the Warehouse Cultivation Project, aims to transform unutilized land at the Hemas Pharmaceuticals Warehouse facility into cultivated land by their own employees, using a gamified approach to drive increased ownership and excitement.
‘Be The Solution’ Campaign has developed further in a progressive manner with launching of the ‘Venasak’ initiative to promote and inculcate Lean Practices and continuous improvement mindset amongst the employees across the business units to advance business excellence.
A subsidiary of Hemas Holdings PLC, Hemas Pharmaceuticals’ persistence and skill for innovation has made it one of the most streamlined and modernised organisations in the nation’s industry, with unrivalled sales and distribution operations. Designed to be ultra-efficient and geared towards providing business partners with the solutions they need, Hemas Pharmaceuticals currently holds over 35% of the market share as Sri Lanka’s largest pharmaceutical distributor. Hemas Pharmaceuticals is recognized as a Great Place to Work® certified organisation.