Enriching experience for employees

The lobby level of Menara Star in Petaling Jaya was a hive of activity as employees and visitors checked out various booths, including EPF. — Photos: YAP CHEE HONG/The Star

STAR Media Group’s human resource open day is now called Star Employee Enrichment Day 2022 (SEED2022).

The two-day event had plenty to keep employees and visitors occupied over three floors of its headquarters, Menara Star in Petaling Jaya, Selangor.

It featured a plethora of activities, services and products, including food trucks and booths set up by private organisations and government agencies.

SMG group people executive Sandra Khoo said the company wanted to bring convenience to employees and engage with them.

“SEED2022 gave our people a chance to run errands, get their health checked and also buy some essential items and other goodies,” she said.

At the Employees Provident Fund (EPF) booths, members registered for online accounts and withdrew money to pay for housing or education loan.

The Social Security Organisation (Socso) disseminated information on some of its schemes including insurance programmes and allowances for job seekers.

SMG employees and visitors donating blood at the National Blood Centre’s booth.

Visitors also got the chance to open a RHB multi-currency bank account while Tabung Haji was present to help Muslims register for online accounts.

Other employees made a beeline for the lobby level where the Immigration Department, National Higher Education Fund Corporation and Lembaga Zakat Selangor had set up booths.

Also popular was the Road Transport Department’s mobile unit parked outside.

There were plenty of food options too, from Marina’s delectable nuggets to Kintry’s artisan granolas and Tealive’s range of bubble teas.

Quick bites and refreshments were available on the second floor as well, including KT Cake House’s home-baked goods, Karta’s ready-to-drink coconut water, Sunquick’s rose lychee juice mixes and authentic Indian teas from Amachi’s Chai.

Employees looking to spruce up their office spaces could peruse Berrykinn’s collection of garden essentials, which also offered terrarium building workshops.

Fashionistas headed to Dolphin Door in Menara Star’s Cyberhub, a two-woman sustainability initiative dedicated to upcycling preloved clothing and repurposing the fabric into hip designs for all genders.

Dolphin Door co-director Monica Chen said the project was a small step in changing the landscape of clothes production by reducing waste and educating the public on creative reuse.

“Every day, two million kilogrammes of reusable textiles and wearable products are discarded into Malaysian landfills. Our main objective is to reduce that waste.

“At the same time, we also hope to one day become a social enterprise by equipping lower-income communities with the skills to upcycle fabrics,” said Chen.

Yuen performing several numbers during SEED2022 to keep the crowd entertained.

Household product ecommerce startup Hygee showcased their “DSTAIN” instant stain remover, which contains environmentally-friendly ether solvents and ionised water, capable of removing ink, coffee and curry stains.

Fitness Concept manned a sizeable station equipped with top-of-the-line treadmills, spinning bicycles and therapy massage guns, available for purchase at discounts limited to the event.

A host of health checkup kiosks were also available for SMG employees on the third floor, such as free ultrasound screenings by Universiti Putra Malaysia and posture check-ups by chiropractic interns from International Medical University.

Visitors could also sign up as organ donors through the National Transplant Resource Centre, donate blood at the National Blood Centre booth or give to Malaysian Dogs Deserve Better, an animal welfare group.

SMG events assistant manager Jency John said SEED2022 was a welcome addition.

“I visited the Assunta Hospital and VitaHealth booths for health screening, and also donated blood.

“Those manning the booth were friendly and shared useful information,” she said.

Ending day one of SEED2022 with a flair, 988FM’s Brandon Chew and Cassey Soo performed a rendition of their song As Long As You Can Be Happy.

Day two saw Sunday Star’s chief reporter Yuen Meikeng belt out karaoke classics Stand By Me, Learn To Fly and All Star, followed by a special performance of Setia Ku Di Sini and Pematah Hati by Suria FM’s Cik Piah.