Stonehaven-on-Vaal, in collaboration with Vaalweekblad and Ster, is hosting a competition for Vaal Triangle businesses to hear what plans they have made to deal with the Covid-19 Lockdown and how they came out stronger. The winning company will receive a gift voucher of R10 000 that can be used for a year-end party OR a 2021 Start-up party at Stonehaven! Here is Hei-Jo Trans’s story:
I am Chandré Brophy and writing as an employee. My bosses are too busy keeping us afloat to read the newspaper or even to stop and smell the roses.
Firstly a little back ground: We are in transport (in Duncanville, Vereeniging) and the last few years have been hectic, but 2020 sure did show us flames…
My bosses (they don’t like to be called that), are kind, generous and caring employers who truly go above and beyond for their employees. During the lockdown, as was the case with many companies, we were closed, shut down – not a soul at the office and it was time to reset not just the world but ourselves.
I remember the 25th of March like it was yesterday, the bosses entered the office with a look of sadness as they knew, the pawpaw was about to hit the fan. They calmly called all the truck drivers, boilermaker employees, mechanics, general workers, OPS personnel and office workers together for a meeting and said: “As you know, the President has declared a national shut down and we are not classified as an ‘essential service’ and therefore, from midnight, we will all be part of the national shutdown.”
My boss further said: “I promise that if we can all make it safely to the other side of the new normal, we will take care of you.” And without a doubt, they did. They called regularly to keep us updated as the lockdown progressed. They Whatsapped or sms’ed regularly just to check in and make sure that we were well, healthy and not in need of anything. They made sure that we were taken care off. A lot happened behind the scenes that not many employees know of. Being an office worker – I know.
Our bosses deserve to be spoiled and treated like the Kings and Queen that they are.
Even if we don’t win the Year-end competition at Stonehaven, on behalf of all the employees at Hei-Jo Trans, we would just like to salute Hein, Johan and Mariaan Miller for their support, love and kindness through-out this pandemic.
* All Vaal Triangle companies and institutions are invited to enter the competition before October 20. Follow this link to find out how to enter: https://www.citizen.co.za/vaalweekblad/74850/win-a-year-end-function-worth-r10-000-at-stonehaven/
