The news is swirling with how/when/how much to react to #covid19, and it's hit me where I live as a business owner, community activist, mother of small kids and member of a family with several vulnerable members.
Among our Values at The Key PR is to Take Care, and that commitment was close at hand as we built a formal policy for this wild time.
I've attached it here in case it helps another small business owner figure out what to do. We may be ahead of the game in San Francisco, but we're certainly not isolated in our anxiety.
Reminder to be extra kind to each other as we navigate communication that's flattened by digital platforms and laced with anxieties about healthcare and markets and other unseen concerns.
Take Care, y'all! And remember, many folks can't work from home, avoid transit, or take the sick time they or their families need. This may be a long haul that helps define us as a society; let's each do whatever we're able to help ease us all through.
The Key’s Coronavirus (COVID-19) Policy
Shared: 3/9/2020
At The Key, we agree to Take Care.
As part of that commitment, we are monitoring an evolving situation and want to practice our privilege as a remote-friendly workplace, so we can be careful and thoughtful about how to make reasonable adjustments to ensure safety at the office and in our communities, to the best of our ability.
We are following the CDC’s guidance for Coronavirus (COVID-19), which you can read in detail, here.
Because COVID-19 is transmitted among people in close proximity to each other - which can happen in the workplace and on transit to and from the office - for the time being, we are requiring certain people to transition to remote work (see below for more details), and strongly recommend that others work remotely. We will keep the office open, in the event that it feels like the best option for any of you; please let us know if you intend to go in.
Everyone is encouraged to think about what you need to successfully work from home. Please speak with Martha or Julia about your individual situation; we are happy to cover ergonomic or other materials to enable successful work from home.
If you transition to working remotely due to this policy, please refer to our Remote Work Policy.
As the situation continues to evolve, we will revise this policy and keep you updated. When the risk decreases, we will lift this policy and revert back to normal office operations and the work-from-home policy.
REQUIRED REMOTE WORK:
- If you are sick, no matter how mild your symptoms are, do not come into the office. Work remotely or take a sick day.
- If you travel anywhere internationally, or someone in your household does, you must work remotely for 14 days following your/their return to the U.S.
RECOMMENDED REMOTE WORK:
- Any employee who feels comfortable doing so may transition to remote work, as long as you adhere to the Remote Work Policy.
- If you are a member of a vulnerable population or have someone in your household that is (e.g. pregnant, over the age of 60, immunocompromised).
- If you have recently traveled domestically or a member of your household has
- If you rely on public transit or rideshare to/from the office please consider taking stress off the system.
While we’re in this holding pattern, we need to think of the many folks throughout our community unable to exercise this level of flexibility and will also put in place the following:
- No travel for work unless business critical
- No visitors to the office unless family or business critical
- No handshakes for a while (unless it’s this one )
REMOTE EMPLOYEE POLICY
We are all well-practiced at working remotely, but as that moves to the norm versus the exception, we’ll be putting in some standard protocols to help keep productivity high, our culture, and our bodies and communities healthy when we’re able.
We ask that you please:
- Set clear working hours (please put in your calendar, Slack status or otherwise communicate)
- Opt for video over phone whenever possible, to keep in contact more closely
- Take lunch and breaks, but set an away status if you’re going to step away for more than 15 minutes
- Use headphones when possible, to reduce background noise
- Put errands or other known outings on your calendars (you do not have to state where you’re going, but a workout, doctor’s appointment, or anything that makes you unavailable should be blocked on the calendar)
Best practices to make working from home successful:
- Keep in touch on #VirtualBevi Slack channel so we don’t lose the camaraderie and support we feel from each other in-person
- Assume best intentions and tone; digital communications are flat, so cut out many of the nonverbal cues we rely on for safe and easy engagement
- Check in early and often to clarify any task, tone or other possible miscommunication. Jump on the phone or into a Hangout.
- Get work-dressed and sit at a proper desk or table (where the ergonomics may be better than your bed)
- Give yourself a “commute” ritual to mark start of work day (even if that’s sitting and having a coffee and reading news before you sign on for the day)
- Move your body often!
