Reflecting on community and connection during this strange time

As I write this, my home city of Singapore is in Day 11 of its ‘circuit breaker’ mode to stem its rate of Covid-19 infections. This equates to a partial lockdown, with much of the workforce at home and schools and non-essential services closed.

This is a tough time for everyone as we adjust to new ways of working and living, and I can sense the anxiety and uncertainty in the air. Many face challenging situations in their personal lives. Some do not have the space or quiet to work or take calls as, in Asia, homes are often shared with extended families. Others struggle with childcare and chores while managing their workload. Let’s not forget too all the selfless medical and frontline workers who continue to give tirelessly in these times, looking after the sick and ensuring essential services continue to function.

At JLL, many of our employees are considered essential workers. Based at client sites, they are keeping key buildings and facilities running during this challenging period. I am extremely proud of their hard work and dedication, as they keep calm and carry on supporting our clients and communities. To our JLL colleagues doing this important work, I thank you for your unflagging commitment.

Our employees’ welfare and safety remain my top priorities as we navigate these unchartered waters. More than ever, we’re grounded in JLL’s core value of teamwork as we go the extra mile to look out for one another as well as those in our broader community.

Our colleagues in China, who have been battling this outbreak for several months, have demonstrated how this can be done. Teammates in West China took the initiative to start an impromptu hotline to counsel teammates on the frontline. They also organised webinars to share learnings with colleagues around the world so we could be better prepared to manage the impact of the outbreak.

In India, one of our colleagues teamed up with a group of friends and business associates to create a non-profit organisation to deliver meals to underprivileged families unable to earn a living during the lockdown period. You can read more of such stories under our #JLLRealStories hashtag.

These acts of teamwork and kindness are what will allow us to weather this storm even as we continue to face challenges over the coming weeks and months.

When I think about how JLL colleagues around the region are responding to the current crisis, what strikes me most is how connected we feel even though we are apart from each other. This is partly to do with technology, but it is also to do with culture and creativity – finding ways to stay connected, productive and, most importantly, showing that we care.

Reach out and let me know how you’re weathering this storm in your part of the world.

Keep safe and take care of yourselves and your families. I hope to see you in person sometime soon.