JAT Holdings is one of the market leaders in wood coatings and brushes in Sri Lanka – with a dominant presence in the paints, as well as luxury home and office furnishing sectors. And JAT Holdings continues to fuel innovation, solidifying its position as a key player and emerging conglomerate in the region. Recognised for its financial stability, JAT Holdings has been awarded a national long-term rating of ‘AA(lka)’ by Fitch Ratings. And JAT Holdings’ commitment to its employees and workplace excellence has also been recognised through its certification as a ‘Great Place To Work,’ making it an employer of choice.

Q: How important is it for businesses to uphold corporate respect in times of crisis?

A: In times of crisis, upholding corporate respect is crucial for businesses. How a business behaves during difficult times reveals its true character. The private sector has played a significant role in supporting people during crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic and economic downturn.

Some corporates disregarded corporate governance and resorted to shortcuts to survive however, which contradicted their previous promotion of values and human resources. On the other hand, JAT assessed its business plans and maintained its corporate governance systems, and refrained from retrenching staff.

With tax policies coming into effect, we took measures to provide relief measures for employees to ease the load. Amidst a crisis furthermore, JAT was listed on the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE), reflecting our character as an organisation – especially during trying times.

Q: What specific policies and practices does your organisation have in place to promote corporate respect towards employees, customers, communities and stakeholders?

A: JAT doesn’t pursue respect through policies but focuses on core values, fair treatment, and ethical practices. Our aim is to excel in what we do and treat all stakeholders equally. These principles naturally earn us respect.

Q: Does respect within the workplace help to nurture admiration so that organisations can become employers of choice?

A: While we don’t work to gain respect, respect within an organisation to us is of the utmost importance. And the senior management plays a pivotal role in achieving this objective.

How we treat individuals – being courteous and on a first name basis, as well as our organisational culture – gives people a certain level of respect. These attributes must be followed from the top tier down.

We don’t hold to favouritism, influence or racial and gender discrimination – and have policies in place to address any employee concern regarding infringements. The respect between top management and employees is reciprocal as decisions made by senior management reflect the organisation’s values.

There are several reasons behind an employee respecting an organisation; and at JAT, it’s the respect the top management shows all employees, equally and in a fair manner. During the pandemic meanwhile, we harvested our lands and shared the yield with employees. When taxes were enforced, we bore certain costs to cushion the impact on our employees and decisions made were not based purely on profit. During this time, it was crucial to strike a balance between profit and people.

Q: What are the main attributes of your business’ image?

A: JAT defied industry trends by expanding and achieving record profits, during a time when others faced restructuring and retrenchment. We prioritised staff motivation and remained resilient amid challenges.

Our decision to go public during the pandemic showcased our boldness; and when interest rates rose to 30 percent, we had a positive cash flow.

Our decisions led people to believe that JAT is a bold organisation that expanded during a crisis while absorbing challenges and was financially strong to weather the storm.

JAT showed overwhelming results as we continued to hold the best interests of the people and didn’t sacrifice one for another. As the organisation grew, the staff did so as well.

We had to resort to one of the two methods – either shrink and let off staff to survive; or retain staff, grow and survive. We opted for the latter.

JAT’s commitment to upholding corporate respect in times of crisis sets it apart. By prioritising internal respect, JAT has positioned itself as a strong people-centric company. Bold decisions and continuous growth solidify its reputation. JAT exemplifies how corporate respect can be earned and maintained.

QUICK-FIRE ROUND

Three priorities for Sri Lankan corporates today
Resilience
Being bold
Going global

Three most vital professional values for business leaders
Being empathetic, compassionate and considerate
Resilience
Believing in your staff, yourself and the country

Telephone:4407700 | Email:info@jatholdings.com | Website:jatholdings.com