RESURFACING

With the social distancing measures arising from Covid-19, ISCA had to cancel large-scale bonding activities for members, such as ISCA Run and ISCA Games, in 2020. The Inter-Professional Games for members of ISCA and other professional bodies was also cancelled for the same reason.

To get around the social distancing restrictions, we converted the ISCA Mingles networking sessions into virtual events. We also partnered with Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand and Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales to hold joint sessions where members from each professional body could mingle and network with each other.

At the virtual sessions, speakers were invited to share on topics such as “Moving from Boss to Coach”, “Navigating an Uneven Recovery and How to Impress Your Clients With Your Whisky Knowledge” and “Uncertainty is the New Certainty: Investor Relations in a Post-19 Environment”. In all, more than 850 attendees came to three ISCA Mingles virtual sessions in 2020.

We started 2020 with the annual Lunar New Year luncheon for our staff. However, in-person employee engagement activities came to a halt when safe distancing measures were in place to minimise community spread of Covid-19.

The pandemic has provided the Institute an opportunity to rethink the employee experience, by respecting individual circumstances, while adapting to rapidly changing circumstances. Prompt updates, and regular virtual check-ins and meetings by managers with their respective teams have ensured our employees remain connected and engaged. Staff also had the opportunity to bond over virtual training sessions and virtual yoga classes, which were organised to encourage a learning culture and promote employee well-being. In 2020, we continued to confer Excellent Service Awards and Long Service Awards to deserving staff, as well as Certificates of Appreciation to staff volunteering in ISCA Cares.

To express our appreciation to our staff for going through this challenging period together with us, we gave each staff a Christmas gift pack that included ISCA-branded reusable masks, a water tumbler, vitamin supplements and toiletries.

As the Covid-19 situation continues to evolve, we aim to deliver a more targeted and dynamic employee experience that continues to provide flexibility for our staff, while ensuring their well-being and employee cohesion.

To comply with social distancing measures, the annual ISCA Cares Bursary Awards Ceremony was held via Zoom in October and about 80 guests attended the virtual event.