Quzhou companies test out 'employee-sharing'

Companies in Quzhou, East China's Zhejiang province, are trying out a new "employee-sharing" system amid the novel coronavirus pneumonia outbreak, local media reported on Feb 24.

"Employee-sharing" is a system in which companies in need of workers can effectively "borrow" employees from other companies.

For example, Haomenglai Home Textile Co Ltd has recently received nearly 30 employees from hotels and housekeeper companies in Quzhou affiliated with Heilongjiang-based Orient Group Co Ltd, an investment-focused group.

"After learning that Haomenglai is short of workers, I proposed the idea of employee-sharing to my superior" said Ye Xiaoli, general manager of the tourism department of Orient Group.

Ye added that her superior was supportive of the idea and asked her to send some employees to help out Haomenglai.

Orient Group started sending their employees to work temporarily at Haomenglai on Feb 17, and after being trained, they are now capable of carrying out simple tasks, such as quality testing and packaging masks.

Each of the shared employees is capable of quality testing and packaging at least 3,000 masks per day, according to Ye.

She noted that Orient Group will adjust its staff according to production demands until the epidemic ends.

Ge Guoqiang, president of Haomenglai, said he is grateful to Orient Group and their employees for allowing the company to continue producing high-quality masks.

Ye also revealed that her company would share employees with other manufacturers of anti-epidemic supplies and providers of daily necessities throughout Quzhou.

Meanwhile, 51 employees from Jiangshan Oriental Wenhua Hotel have been sent to work for Jasan Group.