Standard Group launches a mothers’ room at its town office

Standard Group CEO Orlando Lyomu (second from right), Director of Human Resources Nicholas Siwatom (third from right),Human Resource Manager Joy Kaguri (left), Women Network President Queenter Mbori (right), and staffers at I&M building during the launch of the Group’s mothers’ room. [Collins Kweyu/Standard]

Standard Group has launched a mothers’ room at its town based offices at I&M.

This is in a bid to create a comfortable work environment to provide nursing mothers with space and time for managing lactation responsibilities at work.

The Mothers room, located on the 16th floor of the building is equipped with comfortable seats, electric outlets, a trash can, a hand sanitizer, a microwave as well as a fridge for storage and a music system and television for entertainment.

During the launch on Monday, Standard Group CEO Orlando Lyomu said it was a pleasure to create an environment that makes people happy to come to work.

He said other organizations beyond the Kenyan borders have perfected the essence of a good working environment.

“I have had an opportunity to visit Google and Bloomberg offices. They create an environment where you wonder if you’re really at work. Organizations need to create environments that enable people to be their best, to bring out the creativity,” Lyomu said.

The CEO posed a challenge to its employees to take time and reflect on better ways to take the company to a higher level and not remain just a traditional media house.

“When now you are comfortably perched on that lounge and you’re expressing, take time to think how you can improve the business. One thing I have noticed is that the future belongs to those who dare go beyond,” he said adding that the media industry in Kenya is going through very interesting periods because the market is different compared to the western world.

While it will be hailed as a great move, Standard Group is only complying with the Employment Act which requires employers to provide employees with nursing and lactation space. Other companies to implement this requirement including Safaricom, Nestlé Kenya among others.

Standard Group HR Director Nicholas Siwatom, said the company is committed to maintaining a family-friendly workplace and supporting the health and well-being of its employees.

“Through this, we create a supportive culture at the workplace,” said Siwatom.

He said in the future, the company would like to have a child care centre, where children who require more attention from parents would be near them.