Human Resources Report

2021 Annual Report - Medical Disposables & Supplies Limited 42 Always fight for what you love!

Human Resources

Throughout our 21 years in business, we have experienced challenges of many kinds, and this year was chief of them all, levelling immense punching power. Though it was one that demanded physical separation between colleagues, it served to promote a spirit of connectedness that led members of the MDS team to have an even greater respect for the distinct contributions made by each teammate, a deeper appreciation for the work we collectively do and the service we provide. It found us working ever more hand in glove with each other to provide continued service to essential workers and facilities. Upholding our commitment to the country while keeping our people safe was foremost in our priorities at the onset of the pandemic. From our operations and logistics personnel who helped to keep our supply chain running, the Warehouse and Customer Care team who attended to the needs of customers and consumers, to the delivery team that made sure our customers (and by extension, families and individuals across the length and breadth of the island) had access to medication and health supplies - their combined efforts, hard work and dedication allowed us to concretise our commitment to service.

TAKING CARE... OF OUR STAKEHOLDERS – THE COVID-19 TASK FORCE

The crisis spurred the mobilisation of an internal Covid-19 Task Force, led by the Human Resource & Administration Manager, Mrs. Nadine Banton. The objectives of the Task Force were multifold: to prepare for and to manage any possible impacts related to the outbreak and to protect the health and safety of all employees as well as ensuring continuity of our operations. Daily engagements with the committee were executed through planning sessions, discussions on important updates, reviews of the Company’s pandemic protocol, provision of company-wide guidance and communication. There was a heavy reliance on the relevant government agencies for the most current information, guidelines and recommendations including that of the Ministry of Health and Wellness. We are happy to say that, amid the challenges and restrictions, we continued to responsibly provide consistent and reliable products to our customers and communities with no known cases of transmission among members of our team during the period. Our digital office plan that had already been in train through our business continuity project was accelerated to leverage workplace flexibility for continuous engagement and productivity. A work-from-home arrangement was quickly implemented for our employees, where possible, while ensuring critical operations continued running. These were executed against a backdrop of strict sanitisation protocols and stringent operational protocols to protect our teams based at the office and those deployed in the field.

GROWTH, RECRUITMENT & STAFFING

In support of our growing business, we further expanded and strengthened our workforce. Included in this was the Management Team which burgeoned to a body of 10, as part of a move towards providing greater accountability and focus to departmental responsibilities. Vacant key roles were also filled namely, that of the: • Chief Financial Officer

• Chief Accountant

• Warehouse Supervisor

• Key Account Executive • Trade Execution and Development Executive

The additions of these key personnel helped in alleviating some of the pressures experienced during the prior year and will further maximise the efficiency and professional interaction required to achieve the Company’s overall objectives.

TRAINING & DEVELOPMENT

Training and Development play an integral role in our talent management programme. Through our investment in human capital, we are not only ensuring positional success but leadership succession in our drive towards our goals. For the period under review, three areas of training were earmarked to ensure that employees were coached to upskill their capabilities, enhance internal competencies and become sufficiently experienced to the extent necessary to undertake their assigned activities and responsibilities with effectiveness.

(i) Data Integrity for Logistics Service Providers (LSP)

(ii) Product Spill Management (iii) People Management for Supervisors

STAFF WELFARE

Despite the keen attention paid to financial discipline and a very conscious approach to cost containment this year, following the announcement of new curfew measures and the decision to implement lockdown restrictions for the long Easter holiday weekend, we found it necessary to maintain a token of appreciation to our staff through the distribution of edible (Easter Bun) care packages, playfully branded under the theme ‘Bun’ Out the Lockdown. As the heart of our business, our team continues to prove deserving of actions, both large and small, that serve to sweeten the labour and recognise the vital and valuable role they offer to the Company’s success. As we continue to confront our rapidly changing environment and the ‘new normal’, we are confident that our team will emerge even stronger and more resilient than before.