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SINGAPORE: Some will be asked to leave their workstations early; others could be given a day off, while a few lucky ones may even bump into Lewis Hamilton in the pantry.
While business will go on as usual during the inaugural SingTel Singapore Grand Prix later this month, some employers in the Suntec City and Marina Centre area have made special provisions for staff, as extensive roads closures hit the area for the second time in three years.
More than 600 staff at a business based at Marina Square, for instance, will be allowed to leave early on September 26, just before 100,000 race fans descend on the area for the official practice runs of the first F1 night race.
A medium-sized law firm at Suntec City is even considering allowing staff have that Friday off. And with congestion expected that entire week - with most roads in the area to be closed off from September 23, except for a morning four-hour window - M & A Law Corporation’s managing partner Intekhab Khan said he would be “closing one eye” if staff report late for work.
Over at Daimler South East Asia, not only could the 250 staff get a half-day off on Friday, they may also have a Team McLaren Mercedes driver popping by their Centennial Tower office to say “hi”.
Public relations firm Burson-Marsteller, meanwhile, will enact its business continuity plan - moving some consultants away from their Suntec City’s office to facilitate any urgent needs.
“Coming in or leaving the office will not be an issue because roads are going to be open during rush hour,” said managing director Allison Lim. “But meetings will be an issue for some clients,” she added.
Chemoil International’s (Singapore) managing director Karan Chabria said video conferencing is also an option.
“In the case of clients for marketing and trading, transactions are usually done by phone,” he said.
Citi Singapore, which has 4,000 staff working in the area, said its existing flexible work arrangements would - subject to approval and business requirements - apply during the road closure period.
In 2006, road closures had affected a smaller area, with roads such as a stretch of Nicoll Highway, Raffles Boulevard and Temasek Boulevard being closed for 10 days.
This time round, despite landlords having disseminated information and conducted briefings for offices, some are still confused by the various configurations of road closures over more than a week.
M & A’s Mr Intekhab said he remains unsure despite a briefing conducted by his landlord late last month. “Maps were given but they were not very clear.”
Help could be on the way: The Land Transport Authority (LTA) intends to print at least 500,000 brochures on the road closures. More details are expected soon.
But office workers who depend on taxis to get to work may have a problem: Taxi drivers have apparently told some they would avoid the area when road closures hit.
Landlords have engaged the LTA to offer more help. For example, the landlord of Millenia Tower and Centennial Tower is in discussions with the authority to provide bridging buses that will stop at the two buildings.
The LTA had earlier announced that buses ferrying workers from City Hall and Bugis MRT stations will stop only at Suntec City.
TODAY also understands extra overhead bridges will be put in place around the area, easing the way for office workers to walk to their offices from the MRT stations. - TODAY/ra
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