J Wray & Nephew Limited (JWN) says it has demonstrated its commitment to employee well-being following the passage of Hurricane Melissa by providing tangible and emotional support.

The subsidiary of the Campari Group said in a release that the team dispatched counselling support on site, in addition to their 24-hour Campari Support hotline, to employees in the most affected areas.

In detailing its response, the company said it included physical visits to account for the safety and well-being of each staff member, cash advance distributions to affected western and southern staff members unable to access funds due to automated teller machine (ATM) outages, distribution of care packages containing essential items, and grants disbursement for those who suffered major damage and loss.

Managing Director Daniel Caron said their employees are the business’s most vital asset, and providing support ensures their safety and well-being, which will help the business recover more efficiently and significantly by boosting employee loyalty, morale, and productivity.

“Immediately after the passage of Hurricane Melissa our main focus was the health and safety of our employees. We are providing empathy and tangible support, such as access to medical care, emergency supplies, that helps to meet their primary needs and reduces their strain and anxiety,” Caron is quoted as saying.

He also said their objective is to ensure that their employees get back on their feet, and they are committed to alleviating this stress through support measures that help them regain focus.

Meanwhile, JWN’s Senior Human Resource Director Keisha Palmer echoed Caron’s sentiments, sharing that, “In the wake of Hurricane Melissa’s devastating impact on Jamaica, our foremost priority has been the safety and well-being of our employees and the communities we serve.

“We are relieved to confirm that all team members are safe and accounted for, thanks to their resilience and unity during this challenging time. Many of our employees are located in the most vulnerable areas impacted by the hurricane,” she said.

Palmer further stated that the company “mobilised immediately after the hurricane to support our employees, providing care packages, critical supplies, counselling, and activating the Employee Assistance Programme (EAP). Steps were taken to provide cash advances to employees in St James and St Elizabeth who are unable to access automated teller machines that have been down since the passage of Hurricane Melissa. JWN has also allocated grant disbursement for employees that have suffered major loss or damage”.

She said, too, that for those employees that are finding it difficult to cope with the emotional impact associated with the devastating effects of the storm, the organisation has ongoing Pop-Up CARE Centres to provide support, with resources such as doctors, therapists, cleaning supplies, and human resource (HR) team members that assess needs and provide needed relief.

J Wray & Nephew Limited said it is the oldest registered company in Jamaica and it maintains significant operations and production facilities in sections of the island, including Spanish Town Road, St Andrew, Appleton Estate in St Elizabeth, and New Yarmouth Distillery in Clarendon.

The release added that both JWN and its philanthropic arm, the JWN Foundation, have a long history of supporting its team and the wider community after natural disasters.

This commitment, it said, has been further strengthened by a $250-million donation from the Campari Group to the Government of Jamaica and non-governmental organisations to assist in Hurricane Melissa relief efforts. The organisation’s volunteers have since assembled and distributed nearly 3,000 care packages to families, including those of team members.

These actions are part of the company’s ethos and commitment to supporting nation-building and community development through partnerships and employee volunteerism, it said.

Jahnine Taylor, operations manager at the Joy Spence Appleton Rum Estate experience, being attended to by a doctor.