While the full extent of COVID-19's global impact is yet unknown, it's a good idea to take precautionary measures to protect yourself, your employees and your business.
In light of this pandemic, it's important to stay updated on health guidelines from trusted organizations like NZ Ministry of Health, World Health Organization, & Centers for Disease Control. Ensure you're getting information from reliable sources to avoid spreading misinformation.
While hospitals and governments work to keep people healthy and safe, many businesses are trying to find the right policies and protocols to put in place. We thought we would share our policy that might be of use to you.
This is the COVID-19 policy for Soda and is effective from 17 March
Application
- This policy applies to all Soda staff.
- The policy is provided to all co-workers located at Wintec House for their guidance.
- This is a temporary policy and will stay in place until further notice.
- The policy will be reviewed every 48 hours to ensure that it complies with NZ Government Health guidelines any updates to the policy will be emailed to all Soda Staff by the Operations Manager.
Working from Home (WFH)
- Please WFH if you have one of the "WFH Reasons" listed below.
- If you are feeling sick, then take it easy and get better. Don't worry about work.
- If you are well, and have a WFH reason, then you must inform your manager. If there is anything you need to help you WFH better, then let me know.
Meetings
- Please limit face-to-face meetings. Where possible, have the meeting over video conference.
- Do not meet face-to-face with people arriving from High Risk Countries within the last 14 days.
Attending Events
- Do not attend in-person events for work purposes.
- Do not go to any large events for work where there are greater than 100 people.
Organising Events
- Do not organise or run any Soda Inc. in-person events (this may mean cancelling events already organised).
- If possible turn the event into a webinar, podcast or blog.
Business Travel
- All business travel (both international and domestic) is banned.
Holidays
- Subject to normal leave approval process, It is your call whether to travel for holidays, but please reconsider all international travel.
- Please let your manager know if you are travelling to undertake overseas travel .
- Please take into account that you will need to WFH for two weeks on your return after any international travel.
At risk people
- If you have close family/friends or people you live with who are at risk, you should be particularly careful.
- If you are worried about Coronavirus or any activities in the office, let us know and we are happy for you WFH.
Self-Isolation
If you have been in any country except those listed in Category 2 in the last 14 days:
- Stay at home (self-isolate) for 14 days from the date of departure or close contact
- Contact Healthline for free on 0800 358 5453, or your GP if you begin to feel unwell. The symptoms of COVID-19 are cough, fever, and shortness of breath.
High Risk Countries
- High Risk Countries are: China, Iran, Italy, South Korea, USA
WFH Reasons
- Sickness: If you feel sick don’t come to work. Please be extra cautious and if in doubt, stay at home and seek medical advice. Please stay at home for 2 days after fully recovering from any cold-and flu-like symptoms. If you do have cold-and-flu-like symptoms we strongly advise you to be tested for COVID-19.
- COVID-19: If you are tested as positive for COVID-19, remain isolated until you are given the all-clear form health authorities, which usually includes a negative test.
- Contact: If you have been in any contact with someone who has COVID-19, please WFH for 14 days from that contact.
- Potential Contact: If you live with or have close contact with someone who is at risk of having COVID-19, particularly if they have cold-and-flu-like symptoms, please WFH for 14 days or until you or that person is tested negative. At risk includes:
- Someone who has travelled internationally from a High Risk Country
- Someone who has cold-and-flu-like symptoms, especially if they have travelled internationally
- International Travel: If you have travelled internationally, please WFH for two weeks upon your return.
GENERAL COMMS TO ALL STAFF & COWORKERS AT WINTEC HOUSE
On top of communications shared 16/3/20 - we would also like to take the opportunity to provide you with an update on what actions we have taken and how together we can minimise the risk of the Coronavirus spreading.
Soda Coworking Space
- All Soda Inc. coworking area are on swipe card access only until further notice. Hallways and corridors in Wintec House are still open to thoroughfare but we are monitoring cleanliness closely.
- We encourage coworkers to have meetings via video conferencing but if you do need to meet in person – take them offsite where possible.
- Sickness: If you feel sick don’t come to the office. Please be extra cautious and if in doubt, stay at home and seek medical advice. Please stay at home for 2 days after fully recovering from any cold-and flu-like symptoms. If you do have cold-and-flu-like symptoms we strongly advise you to be tested for COVID-19.
- COVID-19: If you are tested as positive for COVID-19, remain isolated until you are given the all-clear form health authorities, which usually includes a negative test.
- Contact: If you have been in any contact with someone who has COVID-19, please WFH for 14 days from that contact.
Office Hygiene and Health
- There is some evidence suggesting the virus may stick around for at least a few hours, if not more, on surfaces. We will be providing antiseptic hand wash at all offices. Please use this regularly, especially when arriving at the office.
- We will have hand sanitizer wipes at all offices - please wipe surfaces regularly.
- We encourage you to wipe your phone and computer keyboard down on a regular basis.
- We encourage you to have a flu vaccine. Although it won't protect against COVID-19, being healthy helps you avoid serious instances of COVID-19.