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Weekly Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update
Colleagues,
Last week, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) a pandemic, which simply means the virus is now prevalent all over the world. As a result, many countries are implementing additional restrictions to curb the spread. (myemployer) has also enhanced its guidance in order to address the fact that the virus is spreading while the capability to test for the virus remains limited, and results of those tests are not immediate. The exponential spread of this virus is happening at an unprecedented rate and (my business segment) leadership teams are working to make decisions quickly based on the best available information. Please read all the guidance below as it is frequently evolving.
Working from Home
Most countries have issued guidance to ask employees to work from home. In the U.S., we have been providing guidance based on the prevalence of the spread in certain local areas. However, we are now recommending all U.S.-based āmy business segmentā employees work from home, if possible. Employees in business-critical functions, such as security, critical building infrastructure, and critical business systems may be asked to stay onsite to ensure continuing operations. If you have questions, please discuss with your manager whether your role can be performed at home.
This form of social distancing is one way to curb the spread (see more below on social distancing). Please do not trade one exposure source for another (i.e., working from a coffee shop or other public place) when working remotely. Please stay home or somewhere safe where you can practice safe distancing measures. The goal is to limit exposure to all potential sources of the infection, not just coworkers.
As we have stated previously, these weekly updates include global guidance, however any guidance you receive from your country or local office should take precedence.
Remote Work Enablement
To ensure that all people who work from home can connect to the āmy business segmentā network, IT has been increasing the capacity of the URA/VPN connection nodes around the world. We are currently able to support around 17,000 users to connect simultaneously. In addition, we monitor utilization and are in the process of increasing capacity even further. For general advice on how to work from home and where to get support,please refer to this guide.
We recognize the R&D Community and certain other groups use special tools and may have concerns about productivity while working from home. Please know we are actively working to find solutions and enable more employees to be productive in a virtual environment.
Social Distancing
The complete clinical picture of the virus is unknown and has been documented to spread with mild to no symptoms present. Therefore, the CDC/WHO has advised āsocial distancingā to help prevent the virus from spreading. The CDC/WHO define social distancing as "remaining out of congregate settings, avoiding mass gatherings, and maintaining distance from others when possible." Through proactive social distancing, we can all do our part to prevent the further spread of COVID-19, protect those most at risk for serious illness, and reduce stresses to our healthcare infrastructure that ultimately affects us all.
Reporting Known COVID-19 Exposure & Self-isolation
If you or someone youāve had close contact with is diagnosed with COVID-19, please inform your manager and/or HR manager. āClose contactā means 15 minutes or more at a distance of less than six feet (two meters) within the past 14 days.
As a reminder, you should self-isolate and not come into the office or in contact with any coworkers for 14 days if:
You have been diagnosed with COVID-19 or come in close contact with someone who has been diagnosed with COVID-19
You have travelled to/from any of the locations identified as high risk by the WHO/CDC - a list of countries where the virus is rapidly spreading can be found here.
You have been in a closed environment (e.g. home, classroom, hospital waiting room, etc.) with a household or family member who has traveled to/from a high-risk location within the past 14 days.
You have been specifically advised by health authorities to self-isolate or self-quarantine.
Visitor Access Protocols
To mitigate the risk of potential exposure to the virus in our work sites, we created specific Visitor Access Protocols. This questionnaire is intended to solicit verbal responses only. These are guidelines for our U.S. offices; please refer to your country's specific guidance regarding visitors to office facilities.
Crisis Management Team
In an effort to monitor the spread of the virus, and assist our employees across the company, we have activated a crisis management team that meets at least daily, comprised of the following members, in addition to leaders and HR partners from each zone/country. Please feel free to reach out to your country HR partner and/or country leader for any additional questions. If they are not available, you may also contact a member of the central team below:
For the latest company news, please continue to reference the Blah, Blah, Bla,Blah!
We recognize this is an unsettling time for all of us. Our priority is protecting the health and well-being of our employees, families, customers and the communities in which we live and work. Although weāre now working in a global, mostly virtual workplace, it is more important than ever that we remain focused on our customers, partners and colleagues to maintain strong relationships and move the business forward. Letās be flexible with the constant change and help each other as we all navigate this truly unprecedented time in our lives.
Thank you for your patience and support.
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