Although, 2022 saw a recovered face. After two years of struggle, things started to look back in shape. And when we are discussing this, the tremors of a probable return are around the corner. But should we be worried? Let’s find out.

What CEDCOSS aims?

CEDCOSS has been an active player in all walks of life. We have ensured agile movement across important domains that can impact the bigger picture inside and outside its premises. Like with Covid or maintaining basic hygiene around us. We are believers in supporting a healthier space.

When covid-19 locked us in, our hybrid working culture helped us grow even in trying times. And when personal hygiene concerns mounted, we took it up our sleeves to clean. All done to further our cultural values of health and hygiene first.

This is where we now throw the light on our collective initiative.

How we stepped up for the vaccination drive?

By the time you are reading this, more than 90% of Indian adults are fully vaccinated against covid-19 in India. All because of a joint effort the Indian government took with all the industries.

While at the very beginning, the jabs were administered through registrations via CoWIN (Government application for Covid measures). The government allowed employers of both private and public sectors to initiate and conduct vaccination drives. But ensure all the guidelines are rolled out.

We became one such employer. Where we conducted the vaccination drive in association with Sahara Hospitals. Keeping in mind all the safety protocols. The vaccines (available via Serum Institute of India and Bharat Biotech) were procured with the hospital’s team.

We maintained social distancing to prevent the spread and sanitation during the course of the drive. And we also ensured the following things for maximum participation. 

• Vaccinated the employees on our premises
• Reimbursed vaccination amount for those getting vaccinations elsewhere
• Provided care and necessary monetary backup (if needed)
• Thrived with the work-from-home culture 

We also made sure to complete the two doses of vaccinations within the premises. And joined the nation in being the 2nd country to complete 2 billion covid jabs.

Why we conducted the drive?

The vaccination drive’s intention was to ensure a safe workforce. To be careful and protective of our workforce’s health and hygiene. When the pandemic became severe in 2021, the health alarms were terrifying. Losing out on family, friends, and closer associates came to us as a complete shock.

So when the lockdown eased, and vaccination became available for adults, we decided to safeguard our team. Because only then could we think of moving forward. Together with everyone.

We became one among the 70% of employers who stopped people from joining the premise until fully vaccinated. To avoid being spreaders of the deadly virus attack. As mere soap and water couldn’t be the only guard.

CEDCOSS moves out for cleanliness 

Right after things started to take shape in 2021, we were more inclined than ever to ensure safe and hygienic surroundings for everyone sharing the same air.

Because although the frequency of cases subsided, the concern was around. And why just for covid, isn’t this our moral responsibility to take charge of the space we use freely?

Looking day in and day out at how manual scavenging and rag-picking were hurting the health of so many. We became more resolute in the idea to ensure a trash-less surrounding for all.

So we picked up the brooms and walked to the open land beside our premises to curb the situation by a fraction.

This also comes in the wake of horrid statistics that say 3 sanitation workers die at work every 5 days. And health hazards for rag-pickers are only surmounting. In addition, initiatives like these transform behavioral patterns promoting healthy practices for all involved. Because health and hygiene is always a surmounting concern.

Besides, the central government has also taken apt initiatives under its Swachh Bharat campaign, inspiring us further to take this up.

And we did it! Together with the support of the entire CEDCOSS team.

Why we chose the occasion of Diwali?

Every year it is customary in our households to clean homes before the festival of Diwali (festival of lights) arrives. We do it to bring prosperity to our homes. This is why we chose the pious day of Dhanteras to clean our vicinity. Because prosperity shouldn’t only be restricted to our concrete boundaries. Right?

To further spread awareness on occasion, we mobilized the team with insightful messages. Provided resources for cleaning and jolted enthusiasm for the noble cause.

The clean space after the drive made our efforts look totally worth it!

The aim for the days to come

CEDCOSS never shies away from taking initiatives that leave a lasting impression. More so, with good intent. We have been coming ahead with philanthropic activities only to light a selfish notion of seeing the world in a better sight.

Be it charitable shares, mindful donations, or securing complete well-being. We are trying to do what best we can pull off.

Because it is not about the big gestures but small initiatives that are impactful in real. Signing off this time in hopes of doing more good in a better way to drive out the best.

The post For CEDCOSS, Health and Hygiene first, always appeared first on CEDCOSS Technologies Pvt. Ltd..

World blood donor day is an initiation by World Health Organization. Where every year’s celebration aims at raising awareness about the need for safe blood transfusion. While also recognizing the efforts of unpaid donors and blood donor organizations. This year, we at CEDCOSS also pledged to join this force of donors. But before we dive into how we commemorated the day, let’s learn more about blood donation.

Why blood donation?

Blood has a minimal shelf life. Once it is out of your body, storing and safekeeping the blood becomes difficult. And after some time, it does become unusable. That is why a constant supply of blood has to be ensured. Since hospitals handle a range of emergencies and regular cases that require frequent blood supply.

Hence, as a community stepping up for this life saving cause becomes essential. 

The need for Blood Donation 

Every 2 seconds, someone needs blood. This makes it all the more necessary for us to identify the need among the target group for timely access to safe blood via blood donation. 

We believe that accidental cases require it the most, but that’s not it.

We have: 

• Cancer patients
• Orthopedic patients post and during surgery
• Heart ailment surgeries 
• Patients with blood disorders
• Burn patients 
• Sickle cell patients 

Since the need for blood supply is always there. Being a blood donor in such cases can help us save the lives of many. And that’s why we did our bit.

Our mission this blood donation day

As an organization, we always put our best foot forward in our core working domain. But that’s not all we intend to do. Our very name holds ‘community’ (Community Engaged in Development and Customization of Open Source Software) and giving back to that is as essential as any professional undertaking. Luckily, our community has been fortunate to have people who understand this mission. And participate wholeheartedly.

The blood donation drive was a part of that mission, where we want to give back to the community that lets us thrive. Actively or passively, a genuine act of goodwill has helped us all, in some way or other.

 If we are able to run the show it’s because we have been fortunate to do so. Then why not use all that’s in our power to see the picture beyond our limits? We understood this essence. And made it a point for this day to celebrate the goodwill, that’s everyone’s share.

Stepping up for blood donation day

The need for blood donation has always been visible to CEDCOSS. Apart from doing it on a regular basis. We decided to pull off mass voluntary blood donation. Specifically on a day that raises mass awareness. That’s why we chose blood donation day.

An exciting bunch of 60+ people from our CEDCOSS community stepped in for the day. While many more were in the queue, but to time constraints, and the medical team being packed for the day. This was all from CEDCOSS.  We enabled the blood donation drive with the help of expert staff from Apollo Medics Hospitals. Who took all the right precautions. And shared with us the post-blood donation care.

From our Director to our first employees, the lot was an absolute CEDCOSS mix for the day.

To capsule the day in a few words, our colleague, Srijan Jaiswal, recounts it, saying,

“The blood of all humans is what holds them together, regardless of where they come from. As a result, creating more blood relations will do more good than harm.

COVID-19 distanced us so much that we could do nothing more than pray for the known and unknown. And once things got back to normal in 2022, we decided to convert prayers into actions because if you know, you could save someone’s life within 15 minutes, why not do it? Our corporate family embraced our DONATION DRIVE idea wholeheartedly, and the energy level and excitement were evident on the day of the event. 

In all fairness, I was not surprised since Cedcossians have always shown their zeal when CEDCOSS stands for a cause.”

Not to forget, we spread the word with a slogan that resonated with everyone alike.

We informed all our colleagues about the same a week before. Plus, all these participants came up voluntarily! In addition, we received an honorary mention by Hindustan and The Tribune(Lucknow) in their newspapers.

Moreover, we captured the happy blood donors and shared some delightful goodies as a token of appreciation. 

While our team came forward on the day. We ensured that we learned all the right things about the blood donation process, its types, and essential tips.

Elucidating more on this CEDCOSS corporate responsibility

CEDCOSS pledges to take strides in the direction of fulfilling these social responsibilities. We have been taking small but important steps in this line of thought for quite some time now. Be it standing for the right cause, where we undertook the responsibility of ensuring empowered women staff by taking the calls for their health.  Or sharing joys in small pockets with the often emotionally neglected. We are doing what we can.

And we don’t wish to stop here. We want to participate more, do more and learn better. Because there is so much out there that needs to be done. We may not be able to do it all but if a fraction of it improves, then we will find our duties well done.

Since this drive was aimed at responsible blood donation, here’s us leaving you with a very important piece of information on who can and who cannot donate blood.

Requirements for blood donation

Not all of us are equally eligible to donate blood. We learned the difference between who can and who cannot donate blood. Here’s looking at the differentiation.

Who can:

• An individual who is above the age of 17 up to 65 years.
• Has weight ranging from 50 to 158 kgs.
• Suitable veins present for drawing out blood
• Should be fit and well 

Who cannot:

• Have had cancer
• A carrier for either Hepatitis B/ Hepatitis C
• HIV positive patients 
• Suffering from heart ailments
• Had organ transplant
• Had blood transfusion before 1st January 1980
• Injected non-prescribed drugs either for body-building or for other reasons

Note: This information is to spread the word. So share and get aware.

Penning down 

So yes, we did celebrate goodwill this blood donation day. We also made it a point to raise awareness rightfully and encourage regular blood donors. Good health and prosperity are everyone’s share. If a small effort contributes to the greater good, then there’s no harm.

We have been fortunate to contribute to this act. Many a time, we have colleagues raising urgent requirements for blood donation. And we have done all we could then. Seeing the need at all times, doing this drive on a memorable day helped us spread the word beyond our reach. Taking this initiative was also a reflection of our bonds and solidarity. Besides, we are genuinely grateful to Apollo Medics Hospitals and our entire CEDCOSS family to make this initiative a great success.

The post Celebrating goodwill with Blood Donation Day appeared first on CEDCOSS Technologies Pvt. Ltd..

• An ideal workspace?
• What is ideal workspace management to employees?
• Why ideal workspace creation worries employers?
• How does ideal workspace management affect performance/ productivity?

What is an ideal workspace?

How do we define it? An ideal workspace varies for individuals and organizations. But over the reading and learning one thing that came out shining in the armor was the objective with these spaces.
“A space that thrives and challenges both employees and employers.”

Today ideal workspace management stems from the need and want of improving productivity (a section we will deal with later). It extends beyond the traditional space. And centers around the idea of having a space that is mobile, flexible, and well-managed by the tools at disposal.

Because workspace management impacts not just productivity but
Efficiency

Team culture 

Well-being
Apart from this, a workplace is supposed to be inclusive for the likes of various individuals. Say the introverts, extroverts, and ambiverts. Because a diverse workspace also means handling everyone.

A workspace that brings you this?
Find Here

What is an ideal workspace management employees?

Employees today are fixated on the idea of work-life balance. A demand that was sadly never raised and realized. But not anymore, as people realize the big FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) over things other than work, they are taking their lives more seriously.
This is why crafting the ideal workspace and its management becomes central to them.

On rummaging through the thought books it was identified that:

• Employees need transparent communication within any setup they work in. Be it from the office or remote. Or hybrid.
• A flexible working schedule helps them in managing work stress and boosts their psychological well-being. Thus many seek this today in their prospective managers.
• Work appreciation is also a leading factor that counts in for the ideal workspace for an employee today. They don’t want to do mechanical labor only. A word of appreciation is what they seek to build morale.
• More freedom for creative expression is also a strong point that employees put forward in their work environment. You give them the sources and they want to unleash their creativity and deliver good work.

Have you forgotten or do we need to remind you again? Remember the great resignation the US faced last year in the month of November? Where more than 4.5 million people left their jobs. The reason being they were not satiated with what they did. And the need for more caused this mass resignation.

More so, the pandemic gave them the time to rethink. As to why they are doing what they are doing.

Hence looking further into it in terms of employees, they now want a space of value. Where further considerations like:

• Employees now seek a space where they are received with compassion, experience cooperation, and support. Because they win battles for you. If they receive the warmth and support, it gets reflected in your organizational growth with their increased productivity.
• An active focus on healthcare and family seems to be a strong requisite for many. After all, they are working to take back something to them. Companies now offering competitive health benefits mean more to employees than companies who don’t.
• They seek good leadership and guidance. Since that helps them step up or step down in their career. Therefore, it is a must to hone leadership for ideal workspace management.

Apart from what they seek, it is also important to note the ones on the other side. That is, the employers

Why ideal workspace creation worries employers?

Often times employers here are at the receiving end of everything. But it’s important to look at their side of things too. They do have expectations from the workspace they create and run. For them creating ideal workspace management is crucial for crucial reasons.

The ‘why’ of employers

Have you faced this question from employers during hiring? That says, ‘What’s your ideal work environment?’

Employers ask this to identify two things:
First, will you be a fit for their company culture?
Second, your potential in the environment they provide.

Employers seek employees whose ideas and goals align with their thought processes. If it’s not 100% they are always up for making adjustments. But these two are crucial for them.

Plus, believe it or not, ideal workspace design has the power to make employees more loyal. But also that 73% of departments will work from home by 2028 (according to Upwork’s pre-pandemic survey) is racking their brain.

What they are trying to do

Okay, we get it, you cannot contain your workforce in solid grey space. They need space to move and work. Employers get this too. And thus, apart from working on the perks and benefits. There are certain intangible ideas they are bringing into the foreground.

Say:

• Working condition. That is the agreement on elements like work hours, remuneration, training, and work structure between the employee and the employer. This aspect is making companies bloom with regard to ideal workspace management.
• Company culture. This is a front that caters to the way internal communication flourishes within the company. This draws a sharp line between the norms they can exercise and the ones they can’t. While also shapes the value system for both the participants.
• Physical environment. True that today and for the coming decade physical environment won’t be much under the employers’ influence. But shaping up spaces for the rotating 25% mean optimum space, transparent and well-lit (if possible, some infusion of natural light) rooms. With due care given to private rooms and shared spaces.

The last point is also a point of envy among many. Because uber spaces that are comforting and warm often create a positive outlook in bringing people on board. (Looking at you Google for such amazing spaces).

Pro tip: Check out all that you can do to avoid stress in a day’s work.

But obviously not every company can pump up that sort of infrastructure. With what’s available they are all focused on one collective mission.
‘Delivering work that makes everyone grow and learn.’

How does ideal workspace management affect productivity/ performance?

We have already seen how ideal workspace management leads to employees becoming more loyal. If an employee receives it well then the impact on performance and productivity sees an upward curve.

You control the space you work in. And with that very thought some physical attributes to help you perform better are:

• Decluttering your work desk. Trust me when I say this, the mess on the surface makes your mind messy too. So DECLUTTER.
• Your background noise breaks your workflow and rhythm. An office layout or a zone free of that unwarranted noise will boost productivity.
• (Day)Well-lit surroundings help by 84% in the reduction of eyestrains, headaches, and blurred vision, an attribute that has a massive impact on our performance.

• Surrounding your workstation with plants or artwork. This is one thing that not only channels a good mood but being devoid of it can make you sulk. So have it.
• How sure are you of the effect temperature has on your working or working space? If not, consider. Because when the mercury levels go down, they take along with it your productiveness.
• While many organizations today take up the 7s model for performance improvement.
  
  

• Apart from these, a workspace that minimizes fatigue, provides movement and gives easy access to the things at hand. All in all takes care of the ergonomics of your work. A lack of which will take a toll on your performance and hamper productivity.

So do you see now? How an ideal workspace management is crucial? It not only helps you deliver but helps you thrive physically and psychologically. A feat that many are finding difficult to achieve but are still seeking.

Parting words

Ideal workspace management may be an idea of the perfect world. But knowing what works best for you is what makes an ideal workspace management easy. We may have shared an inside perspective here. Although what we suggest might go through enormous changes in the coming decades. Because the workspace is constantly evolving.

The next 10 years might be a time where digital dexterity will overpower the experience. Or say machines will become our colleagues. And data collection of employees will grow manifold. You never know.
The point is, the emphasis on creation and management of an ideal workspace is never-ending. All we can do in the process is imbibe what best fits both the parties and deliver what we are to give.

Do not forget to drop your query, if any or connect with us for discussions. Because we are indeed all ears!

The post Why do you need to work for ideal workspace management? appeared first on CEDCOSS Technologies Pvt. Ltd..

We have stepped into an era where avoiding the digital space is no more a choice. We are bound to use it. Since the technological revolution, we have become more hooked to our devices than ever. Almost 83.72% of the world’s population is on smartphone devices now! 

The numbers are a mere reflection of what’s consuming us. Be it anxiety or a constant feeling of checking your notifications. We have all been there. And therefore, it becomes central for us to understand the practice of the digital sabbath for greater well-being.

The insights about the concept are explored here. In the following blog, we will be covering the mentioned sections;

• What is Digital Sabbath?
• Why do you need Digital Sabbath?
• How can Digital Sabbath fail?
• How can you achieve it?

What is Digital Sabbath?

The term we have been seeking is here. Digital Sabbath, in simple terms, means a day’s break from digital technology. The act is done voluntarily. This is to ensure that we stay off our devices for a day a week and spend our time elsewhere feeling more agile and connected. The central goal of this task is to reduce the alarming screen times we are exposed to. Sabbath is a biblical term that hints at a day’s rest. That is, it refers to the practice of a break from work for a day. Just like God rested.

James Kelly coined the term in 2016 after being inspired by the term from Judaism and since then has helped many who expressed a desire to have digital free rest.

The way you undertake this varies from person to person.
Anything and everything that contributes to your time away from the screen.

Say,
Reading
Gardening
Spending time with family 

Or anything that defines it for each individual.

Why do you need a digital sabbath?

We said you need a digital sabbath as it is no more limited to want. We need that screen break! The same is a requisite now, and we got reasons to support this need.
So, for example, let’s take this statistic

This is just a mere comparison of how this has become worrisome for people over the years. The other reasons why you need this are also very critical in today’s perspective. 

If studies are to be believed, an average person today checks their phone 50-80 times a day! 

Constant time on the phone often drives one to restlessness. Because we become fidgety and are always on the lookout for information. Today, therefore, a large chunk of us suffers from information overload because there’s too much available for consumption. 

There is a wave of anxiety that hits us. When we are not able to check our phones for some time, this is hazardous. 

The affect

According to the nonprofit organization Humane Technology, excessive usage is taking a massive toll. As it is exposing us to 

depression, 

loneliness, 

Isolation,

reduced empathy and 

lack of focus
All these factors are impacting our lives today. The sooner we realize, the better we cope and embrace the “digital sabbath.”

Another reason to consider this is the constant feeling of being drained. On average, 70% of Twitter users confirm browsing the social media site. While 566 times a day, we switch tasks on the computer and check our emails 74 times a day.
We have become obsessed with the influx of so much available at the click of a button. 

In addition to this, social media sites are, as per the Centre for Humane Technology, in a “zero-sum race for limited attention,” as stated by The Hindu. This infers that these sites have created the attention hook on deliberation that goes on and ultimately drains us out. 
As a matter of fact, people are indeed trying hard to embrace the idea of unplugging from their digital world. Here’s how people are coping. 

The statistics are constantly revised. But the idea is clear. We are affecting ourselves with so much digital immersion.

People who have embraced this are seeing the results. With a larger lot quoting the experience as ‘refreshing.’

But the practice isn’t as easy as it sounds. Taking a digital Sabbath comes with obvious downfalls. More of this is dealt with in our next section. 

How can a digital sabbath fail?

The practice is derived from the idea of having a day’s break. Which actually refers to channeling your energy elsewhere and not doing something that takes up. So far we have stressed how important it is and the repercussions it can have on oneself. 

But this practice goes on for a toss if we fail to realize the true purpose.

• We have a life that practically circles around cellphones and the applications that lie in them. Even the time we take off goes into browsing something (the mindless browsing syndrome).
  
• The tech-driven sabbath or break is also not helping some because the technological advancements were meant to connect. So the disconnect is somehow not exactly helping.
   
• With the economies becoming faster, our tasks are cramming up in that same 24 hours. Which often results in a feeling of “time is going faster.”
  This implies one thing, we need more time than a sabbath now because the activity clocks are almost full.

• Therefore, the true meaning lies in understanding the practice. This means us rebuilding the physical world’s connections and moments. 

• Another thing that takes the practice haywire is our strict enforcement of it. The same is not necessary. We have to spend more time taking a break. No, the practice has to be undertaken depending on our feasibility. It can be a smaller break, a few hours to an hour, or any engagement that doesn’t feel like work. 
  
  So yes, we need a sabbath that helps us feel “that more time.”

How can you achieve it?

Since we are talking about the sabbath, we also need to emphasize how you can achieve it despite the forces working to make it a disaster.

Note: These are the practices people across have taken and improved the break tenure.

• People have been trying the digital space detox and have come up with innovative ways. One such is diverting the glare from screens to books/ journals/ magazines. These are available digitally, too, but embracing physical copies help the sabbath time. 

• Another way that’s helping people with their digital break is the type of screen that defines their break. Many people count not watching television as a part of their break.

• Setting your limit for observing the break is essential. Not everyone observes or can observe it for an entire day. An hourly cap of digital break or a defined engagement is all that you need.

• The whole idea of the Sabbath is to observe a time that gives you or makes you feel that break. So ensure spending it as a time that relaxes you—spending time with loved ones, engaging in a time that involves everyone around. 

• Some people have even had luck with no electricity Sunday. It is a practice where they cut off from power supplies and spend it outdoors indulging in leisure activities. 

• Make it a habit. Nothing works better than following a routine. Once we observe the digital sabbath in regularity. Then people around also help us have that break. Say if we familiarize them with why we were not available on “Sunday,” or any day you take an off, the questions will end, and people will let us observe it.

Conclusion

And it’s a wrap here with the idea of a digital sabbath! What all we could learn and help you brief is here. This as a concept has always triggered our thinking as to why it is garnering attention. On exploring, we realized the fascinating concept and chunked out the piece in front of you. 

 If you have any queries or want to share anything, drop a comment below and let us know. Also, if you wish to connect with us, connect here. To know more about us, check out our following social handles:
Facebook
Instagram
LinkedIn
Twitter

The post Digital Sabbath: Embrace it! appeared first on CEDCOSS Technologies Pvt. Ltd..