A rare gesture...11 bonuses before Eid
The company gave six bonuses to its employees last year
The PHP family has once again set an example of a benevolent employer by standing by its staffers in these trying times.
With Eid-ul-Fitr approaching, the business conglomerate in Chattogram has given its employees 11 bonuses "to motivate and support them".
The bonuses – one regular Eid bonus and 10 special Covid payments, each equal to an employee's basic pay – are a continuation of the PHP Family's corporate social responsibility initiatives inspired by the group's Chairman Sufi Mohammed Mizanur Rahman, says his son and the group current Director Mohammed Akther Parvez.
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"We take the wellbeing of our staff seriously. We have decided to stand by our PHP colleagues with a total of 11 bonuses to motivate and support them in the pandemic," Parvez said.
"The PHP colleagues are also the sufferers of the pandemic situation. An employee who used to come to the office by bus had to spend extra during the lockdown-led transportation closure," added Parvez.
The conglomerate came up with the generous initiative at a time when many companies are resorting to salary and job cuts as a cost minimising mechanism to survive the virus fallout.
The PHP Family has also been experiencing a significant slump in sales since the Covid-19 pandemic began in 2020. But it did not cut salaries last year and also gave six bonuses to its employees.
The PHP employees are also happy. Such initiatives by the employer boost their confidence and dedication to their job, they said.
The group employs a 10,000-member staff and its monthly salaries amount to around Tk11 crore.
Mesbah Uddin Atik, head of marketing at PHP Automobiles Limited, a sister concern of PHP Family, said, "I got the bonuses on 4 May. We are very proud of being a part of such a company that thinks about its employees and values their contribution.
"We are grateful to the company."
All the employees received the bonuses by 5 May
The total amount of the bonuses is quite large, said Mesbah, and many can invest from it in ensuring a sustainable future.
"There is now a happy atmosphere at the workplace. These bonuses definitely will boost our dedication to the company," he added.
Abdul Momen, deputy manager (Human Resource) of the PHP Family, said, "All the employees received the bonuses by 5 May.
"Last year – during the pandemic – we got increments and there was no salary cut! Good practice helps raise the company and makes it employee-friendly," Momen said.
PHP, which stands for peace, happiness and prosperity, started its journey in 1999. It comprises over 30 companies that are operating in diversified sectors such as steel, float glass, aluminium, textiles, power, petro refinery, financial services, agro, automobiles and others.
The group has an annual turnover of Tk5,000 crore.
