Mumbai: upGrad, India’s higher edtech company, today announced that it will be covering 100% vaccination expenses for all its employees (full-time, contract, intern etc.) and their families. The edtech leader is already in advanced discussion with private service providers for vaccination and the drive will initiate as soon as Government approvals and procurement of vaccines is allowed. This medical benefits program makes upGrad, the first Indian company in the start-up edtech space to announce such a COVID-19 vaccination drive.
This vaccination drive will be voluntary for the employees and their immediate families, who can avail of it in major cities. The drive is also getting extended to ex-employees who may seek assistance from upGrad. Thus, more than 10,000 individuals comprising self, spouse, kids, and parents of current employees and ex-employees could be benefiting from this move.
Ronnie Screwvala, Co-founder & Chairman, Mayank Kumar, Co-founder and MD and Phalgun Kompalli, Co-founder, upGrad in a joint statement, said, “The health and wellbeing of our employees is our top priority. We have always valued our employees’ contribution to the company and have come up with various employee-friendly policies even in the past. We are ready to roll this out as soon as the Government allows the private sector to procure these vaccines.”
During the lockdown, pre-empting the need for a well-rounded approach to monitor and meet the psychosocial needs, upGrad partnered with 1000+ counsellors who were available 24×7 for online chats, voice calls or video sessions for all its employees, and was one of the first employers in India to reverse and reinstate salary cuts within 3 months of Lockdown.
