We are sharing our internal employee communication on the theme of the novel coronavirus externally, in case helpful to other companies.

Employee communication

in times of coronavirus

We will update this document with additional communication and context as things progress. However, we urge all employees and contractors to continuously follow the advice of public health officials to prioritise everyone’s health and safety.

Last updated on March 6, 2020.

Background

In December 2019, a novel coronavirus that infects humans was detected in Wuhan, China. Since then, tens of thousands of cases of COVID-19 have been reported in several countries outside of China.

While there is no need to be alarmed right now, the situation is rapidly evolving – we do expect more cases, and this is a good time to prepare.

We aim to protect the health and safety of our workforce as the virus continues to spread across Europe, and share this document to provide some guidance on how to handle the current situation.

Guidance for employees/contractors

1. HYGIENE
   Standard recommendations to prevent infection spread include regular hand washing, covering mouth and nose when coughing and sneezing, thoroughly cooking meat and eggs. Avoid close contact with anyone showing symptoms of respiratory illness such as coughing and sneezing.
   We urge all employees to maintain good hand hygiene and will hand out hand sanitiser at all our offices.

2. BUSINESS TRAVEL
   Since we as a company strive to safeguard our community as well as our public health, we have decided to halt all business travel abroad, unless absolutely necessary and signed off by the Management team (manager sign-off is not enough). Therefore, please cancel/suspend all international business travel until further notice.
   If you have been to an affected area (China, South Korea, Italy, Iran and Japan) in the last 14 days, please contact HR, and pay attention to any symptoms such as fever, tiredness, and dry cough.

3. QUARANTINE
   As of February 26, 2020, employees that have visited infected areas should work from home for 2 weeks and not come to any of our offices during that period. If you have questions regarding this decision, contact your manager or HR.

Frequently asked questions

Q: What do I do if I am feeling unwell but think it’s just a cold or seasonal flu?
A: Pay close attention to your symptoms, and if you show possible signs of infection (respiratory symptoms, fever, cough, shortness of breath and/or breathing difficulties), you need to get yourself tested by contacting 1177. If you are not feeling well and/or you have flu-like symptoms, either rest or work from home until you feel better.

Q: What are the symptoms?
A: Common signs of infection include respiratory symptoms, fever, cough, shortness of breath and breathing difficulties. In more severe cases, infection can cause pneumonia, severe acute respiratory syndrome, kidney failure and even death.
The vast majority of those infected so far have only mild symptoms and recover without complications within 14 days.

Q: What do I do if I suspect I might be infected?
A: If you show possible signs of infection (respiratory symptoms, fever, cough, shortness of breath and/or breathing difficulties), you need to get yourself tested. In Sweden, it’s a legal requirement that anyone who suspects they might be infected should contact 1177 in order to get tested for the virus.

Q: I just got back home from a trip to one of the affected areas, but I feel fine. Is it okay to come to the office?
A: If you have been to an affected area (China, South Korea, Italy, Iran and Japan), please contact HR before coming to the office.

Q: I have a business trip planned in the coming weeks, what should I do?
A: The company’s travel policy at the moment is to suspend all international business travel, unless absolutely urgent. The urgency of your travel needs must be signed off by the Management team.

Q: I have a personal trip planned to one of the affected areas in the coming weeks, what should I do?
A: As a company, we can’t control what happens in your personal life. However, if you have been to an affected area you might have to wait for 14 days before coming back to any of our offices. Please contact HR if you have been traveling in any of the affected areas in the last two weeks.